Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s former World No. 1 women’s singles player – Tai Tzu Ying, stepped into a new role as a forensic investigator for a day, helping to unveil southern Taiwan’s first airgun testing laboratory. Through her participation, she also helped promote the campaign “Crack Down on Illegal Guns, End Violence” with a video message.
The “Crack Down on Illegal Guns, End Violence” promotional video from Tai Tzu Ying:
The Airgun Testing Laboratory, established by the Criminal Forensics Center of the Kaohsiung City Police Department, officially opened on December 1, 2024. The lab will handle airgun evaluations not only for Kaohsiung’s various police divisions and units but also for courts and prosecutor offices in Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung, Taitung, and Qiaotou.
As the daughter of former police officers turned firefighters, Tai Tzu Ying was invited to serve as a one-day forensic investigator. Putting on a forensics vest for the first time, she participated in the lab’s unveiling. Guided by police experts, she conducted simulated tests, experienced the power of airguns firsthand, and learned the processes for determining their lethality. Tai also showed her support for law enforcement’s efforts to combat illegal firearms.
The Criminal Forensics Center explained that the lab’s personnel underwent rigorous training by the Criminal Investigation Bureau to obtain certification. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments from the U.S.-based OEHLER Research, including infrared photoelectric screens and speedometers, approved by Taiwan’s National Police Agency. By measuring the time it takes for projectiles fired from airguns to pass through the infrared grid, the lab calculates the velocity and kinetic energy per unit area. These findings are documented in reports that can serve as evidence for prosecution, detention, and court judgments.
Previously, airguns confiscated in Kaohsiung required transport to the Criminal Investigation Bureau in northern Taiwan for testing, a process that took 3-6 months from seizure to obtaining a report. With the new lab operational, testing times are expected to be reduced to within two weeks, significantly improving case processing efficiency.
Aside from filming the promotional video, Tai Tzu Ying personally participated in simulated tests to experience the power of airguns. She humorously shared her thoughts on her social media account, writing: “Huh! Should I switch careers? Just kidding! This is just a one-time experience. Unveiling southern Taiwan’s first airgun testing lab.”
Fans were thrilled to see photos of Tai holding an airgun, leaving comments like, “Agent Tai,” “Looking so cool,” “You’d make an excellent sharpshooter,” and “Even bullets aren’t as fast as your smashes!”
As for her badminton career, Tai Tzu Ying previously applied for “World Ranking Protection” and has yet to disclose her next steps. She emphasized focusing on recovery from injuries, stating she’ll make decisions about her future once her condition improves.
