Tears and Tributes as Chen Qingchen, Zheng Siwei, Huang Yaqiong and Liu Yuchen Bid Farewell to Badminton

Hangzhou — On the night the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals concluded, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium was transformed from a battleground into a place of remembrance, gratitude, and tears, as four pillars of Chinese badminton — Chen Qingchen, Zheng Siwei, Huang Yaqiong, and Liu Yuchen — officially bid farewell to competitive badminton.

The retirement ceremony was more than a formal send-off. It became a collective reflection on an era that defined dominance, partnership, and emotional bonds that extended far beyond medals and rankings.

Watch the retirement ceremony here:

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Jia Yifan’s Tearful Tribute to Chen Qingchen Becomes the Night’s Emotional Core

The most moving moment of the evening belonged to the iconic women’s doubles partnership known as “FanChen.”

Jia Yifan, taking the stage to honor Chen Qingchen, delivered a deeply personal speech that left the arena silent. Holding two handwritten pages she had revised repeatedly, Jia referred to herself as “Qingchen’s badminton family,” describing their bond as one forged through eleven years of shared victories, injuries, setbacks, and resilience.

She recalled small yet powerful memories — sharing a single bowl of chicken rice after their first big win, supporting each other through injury rehabilitation — and summed up their partnership with a line that resonated across social media:

“Retirement is not a full stop. It’s a dash.”

As the song Best Friend played softly in the background, Jia’s voice broke, and tears flowed freely — both on stage and throughout the crowd.

Watch Jia Yifan’s emotional speech here (Mandarin):

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Chen Qingchen: “If You Need Me for LA 2028, I’ll Be There”

Responding with sincerity and trademark humor, Chen Qingchen assured Jia that retirement would not sever their bond.

“If you need me while preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, I’ll come back and train with you anytime.”

She described her career as “without regrets,” thanked her coaches, teammates, and fans, and openly encouraged Jia to continue chasing Olympic dreams. A light-hearted joke about “meeting again on a parenting show someday” broke the tension, drawing laughter before the pair embraced.

As they hugged, the big screen replayed their Paris Olympic gold medal moment, creating a powerful visual bridge between their peak and their farewell.

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Careers That Defined an Era

At just 28, Chen Qingchen leaves behind one of the most decorated women’s doubles careers in badminton history — including four World Championship titles, four Sudirman Cups, three Uber Cups, two Asian Games gold medals, and three World Tour Finals titles. She delayed retirement twice to mentor younger players and has now transitioned into a coaching role in China’s domestic league.

Jia Yifan, meanwhile, continues her career alongside Zhang Shuxian, with the pair already climbing to world No. 3 as they set sights on Los Angeles 2028.

The mixed doubles greats Zheng Siwei (28) and Huang Yaqiong (31) — affectionately known as “Yas” — retire as Olympic champions, three-time world champions, four-time World Tour Finals winners, and multi-time Asian Games and Sudirman Cup gold medalists. Remarkably, the pair captured another national title just last month at China’s National Games.

Men’s doubles stalwart Liu Yuchen (30) bows out with a résumé that includes World Championship gold, Thomas Cup and Sudirman Cup titles, Asian Games team gold, and an Olympic silver medal with former partner Li Junhui.

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Zhang Jun’s Tribute: “They Built Chinese Badminton’s Glory”

Chinese Badminton Association president Zhang Jun delivered a heartfelt address, reflecting on shared battles and unforgettable triumphs.

He recalled the 2019 Sudirman Cup in Nanning, where China defied outside skepticism to defeat Japan 3–0 in the final.

“These players gave everything to Chinese badminton. Their belief, their spirit, and their courage created our glory. I hope fans will continue to support FanChen, YaSi, the men’s doubles giants, and the national team as a whole.”

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A Perfect Farewell, A New Beginning

As Chen Qingchen, Zheng Siwei, Huang Yaqiong, and Liu Yuchen took their final bow together, surrounded by family, teammates, and thousands of fans, the moment felt less like an ending — and more like a passing of the torch.

The lights dimmed, applause echoed, and one chapter of badminton history closed with dignity, gratitude, and profound emotion — leaving behind a legacy that will inspire the sport for generations.