Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] Shi Yuqi, the top Chinese
badminton player who recently won the French Open, was unable to continue his
successful streak. In the men’s singles quarterfinals at the All England Open,
Shi Yuqi made the decision to retire after losing the first game 12-21 due to a
39-degree fever he had developed the night before the match. This unfortunate
circumstance meant that he missed the opportunity to chase after Lin Dan’s
record. Shi Yuqi has been experiencing a resurgence in his performance since mid-December
of last year. He achieved back-to-back runner-up positions at the 2023 World
Tour Finals and the 2024 Malaysia Open, and then went on to win the
championships in India and France earlier this year. If Shi Yuqi had reached
the men’s singles final at the All England Open, he would have equaled the
impressive feat accomplished by Lin Dan 20 years ago: reaching the finals in
five consecutive Opens. “SUPER DAN” is the title bestowed upon Lin
Dan by the Swiss Open official website after he achieved this remarkable
milestone. Over the following 20 years, many top men’s singles players,
including Lin Dan himself, were unable to replicate the achievement of reaching
five consecutive finals in international competitions. In the editor’s opinion,
preserving one’s health is of utmost importance in the long run. With over
90,000 Olympic points, Shi Yuqi is certain to secure a spot in the Olympics.
His primary focus should now be on maintaining his good form and launching a
strong bid for the Olympic gold medal in men’s singles badminton at the Paris
Olympics.