Source: Oriental Image/Jiang Xu
[Saba Sports News] Recently, the birthdays of
several Chinese badminton players have coincided. Zheng Si Wei, Huang Yaqiong,
and Shi Yu Qi celebrated their birthdays one after another. On March 1st, Chen
Yufei, the women’s singles badminton champion at the Tokyo Olympics, turned 26.
On her birthday, Chen Yufei shared a reflective essay on social media,
detailing her journey since her Olympic victory. In 2022, she expressed feeling
“tired and powerless.” In 2023, she found solace in her experiences,
and for 2024, she hopes to rediscover her true self, seeking purity,
simplicity, and a clear sense of direction to finish the upcoming summer. Chen
Yufei revealed that she has had only a month and a half of offseason in the
past three years due to a foot injury. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approaches,
she acknowledged the increased pressure and challenges that come with being a
champion. She admitted to feeling more nervous and stressed during preparation
and in her mindset. Nevertheless, Chen Yufei remains confident about winning
the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She expressed her desire to live a life
that is “cool, handsome, free, and easy” this year.