Olympic badminton legend Huang Yaqiong has officially retired from the Chinese national team, marking the end of an illustrious career. Announcing her departure on social media Wednesday, Huang expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and encouragement from fans worldwide.
Reflecting on her journey, Huang revealed that she had decided prior to the Paris Olympics that it would be her final Games. \"Although I still possess the physical ability to compete, the accumulated injuries and increasing age have made me lack confidence to continue shouldering the mission of winning glory for my country and maintaining the form as an elite athlete,\" she shared.
Huang's career highlights include securing the mixed doubles gold at the Paris Olympics alongside partner Zheng Siwei, where the duo dominated the tournament with an undefeated 6-0 record. Together, they also clinched the championship for the third consecutive time at the recent Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals.
Following her own retirement, Zheng announced his retirement last November, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched success. Despite stepping away from the national team, Huang remains passionate about badminton and plans to contribute to the sport in new ways. \"Badminton is my lifelong pursuit, and I'm willing to give it my all,\" she affirmed.
Huang's decision marks the end of a remarkable era in Chinese badminton, inspiring future generations of athletes to strive for excellence on the global stage.
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Olympic badminton champion Huang to retire from Chinese national team
cgtn.com
