[Saba Sports News] On May 7, Cheng Xing, a rising star in the mixed doubles of the Chinese National Badminton Team, celebrated his 24th birthday. He shared a picture of his birthday cake on social media, along with a set of stylish portrait photos with his partner. The couple showed intimate interactions filled with great sweetness, which fans and teammates described as wedding photo-style shots.
In fact, Cheng Xing registered his marriage with his girlfriend back in November 2024, right after turning 22. At that time, he affectionately confessed to his wife: “It’s you in good times, it’s you in hard times. You will always be with me, through every low point and every peak in the future.” Bearing a striking resemblance to Chinese actor Zhang Yishan, Cheng Xing is nicknamed “National Badminton Team’s Zhang Yishan” by fans. In recent years, his partnership with Zhang Chi has delivered outstanding results.
The pair claimed the mixed doubles title at the 2024 Orleans Masters in France, and secured another mixed doubles championship at the Swiss Open this April. Currently, their world ranking has climbed to 11th, making them one of the key pairings for the Chinese Badminton Team in the Los Angeles Olympic cycle.
In my opinion, Cheng Xing’s birthday portraits are not only an open display of his personal affection, but also form a perfect portrayal of having both a happy love life and a thriving career alongside his excellent competitive form. Stylish, authentic and ceremonial, the portraits satisfy fans’ curiosity about the private life of their idol, while also showcasing the positive lifestyle of a core member of China’s new generation of badminton players.