[Saba Sports News] On May 26, the 2026 Chinese National Badminton Individual Championships entered its third matchday in Maanshan, Anhui Province. In the men’s doubles 1/64 final, Liu Yuchen, representing the Beijing team, made his comeback debut. Partnered with Dan Yixiong, he won in straight games against the home pair Zhao Qixuan and Liu Ziqi, sealing a spot in the next round.
Last year, Liu Yuchen tied the knot with Huang Yaqiong, winner of the mixed doubles title at the Paris Olympics, embarking on a new chapter of life. Afterwards, he took part in the Badminton Super League solely as a coach. He also commentated on the 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup via live streams and attended events such as Champions on Campus. While many thought he would retire for good, Liu Yuchen returned to the 2026 National Badminton Individual Championships as both coach and player. He wrote on his social media that badminton is indispensable to his life, and he chooses to keep competing out of pure passion for the sport.
In my opinion, Liu Yuchen’s comeback as player-cum-coach at this national tournament is mainly a way to combine competition with coaching. He has not rejoined the national team nor aimed to qualify for the Olympics, yet his move fully shows his deep love for badminton.