Chinese badminton star and Olympic champion Huang Yaqiong has announced her retirement from the national team. In a heartfelt message posted on social media Wednesday, Huang shared that she has submitted her resignation and officially bid farewell to her national team career.
\”I’ve been greeted with countless encouragement from everyone, hoping that I could continue my career,\” Huang wrote. \”But actually, during the run-up to future competitions, I’d already decided that it would be my last one.\”
She cited accumulated injuries and increasing age as factors in her decision. \”Although based on my current form, I still possess the physical ability to compete, the accumulated injuries over the years combined with increasing age have made me lack confidence to continue shouldering the mission of winning glory for the country and maintaining the form as an elite athlete,\” she added.
Huang, along with her partner Zheng Siwei, achieved remarkable success on the international stage, including securing a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The duo has been dominant in mixed doubles, winning multiple championships and earning admiration from fans worldwide.
Despite stepping away from the national team, Huang emphasized that her connection with badminton remains strong. She expressed a desire to continue contributing to the sport in new ways. \”Badminton is my lifelong pursuit, and I’m willing to give it my all,\” she said.
Her partner, Zheng Siwei, had also previously announced his retirement from international competition. In their last international appearance, the pair clinched their third consecutive championship at the year-end Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals.
Huang’s retirement marks the end of an era for Chinese badminton. Fans around the world will undoubtedly miss her presence on the court but look forward to her future contributions to the sport she loves.
Reference(s):
Olympic badminton champion Huang to retire from Chinese national team
cgtn.com
