Beijing: China’s men’s doubles badminton coach, Chen Qiqiu, shared on his online platform that three men’s doubles players from the China national team have decided to end their badminton careers. The players are Liu Yuchen, Ou Xuanyi, and Tan Qiang. From now on, they will no longer participate in international competitions.
In his post, Chen Qiqiu mentioned that Liu Yuchen, Ou Xuanyi, and Tan Qiang have officially submitted their retirement applications, marking their departure from the international badminton stage. At the same time, World No. 1 pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang have opted to temporarily step back from competition during this week’s Japan Open but plan to return at next month’s China Open. Chen Qiqiu expressed gratitude to fans who have consistently supported the Chinese badminton team, especially the men’s doubles.
Liu Yuchen’s Olympic Journey and Partner Changes
Liu Yuchen, 29, began training with the Chinese national second team in 2012 and later promoted to the first team. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he partnered with Li Junhui in the men’s doubles event, where they won the silver medal. After Li Junhui retired, Liu Yuchen teamed up with Ou Xuanyi. The duo competed in this year’s Paris Olympics but did not advance to the final rounds.
Ou Xuanyi: Sudirman Cup Hero and Olympic Challenges
Ou Xuanyi, 30, began representing the Chinese national team in international competitions in 2017. He formed a stable partnership with Liu Yuchen in preparation for the Paris Olympics, ultimately earning a spot in the competition. However, their performance in the Olympics fell short of expectations. Despite this, their remarkable comeback during four crucial matches at last year’s Sudirman Cup remains memorable.
Tan Qiang: Early Start, But Limited Success
Tan Qiang, now 26, started playing badminton at the age of five. During his time on the Chinese national team, he partnered with top players like Ren Xiangyu and He Jiting. However, due to physical issues and other challenges, his competitive results did not show significantly improvement.
Four Chinese Badminton Players Announce Retirement
Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, four Chinese badminton players have decided to retire from professional competition, including three men’s doubles players above and Paris Olympics women’s singles silver medalist, He Bingjiao. They have all submitted retirement applications and will no longer participate in international competitions.
BadmintonPlanet.com extends its best wishes to these retiring players for success in their future endeavors.