Shi Yuqi of the Chinese mainland has soared to the top of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) men's singles rankings, securing the coveted World No. 1 spot and a place in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. His journey to success, however, has been anything but smooth.
Three years ago, Shi made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021, where he faced a tough defeat against Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the men's singles quarterfinals. Scoring only 13 points across two games, Shi struggled to make an impact.
The challenges didn't end there. In October 2021, Shi was suspended by the Chinese Badminton Association for making inappropriate remarks regarding his withdrawal from the Thomas Cup semifinals against Japan's Kento Momota. This 10-month suspension was a significant hurdle in his career.
Returning to the court after the suspension was not easy for Shi. He grappled with doubts about his abilities and even considered withdrawing from the Paris Olympic qualifiers in 2023. \"In the first half of 2023, I was like, 'maybe I couldn't do this anymore',\" Shi shared with the China Media Group (CMG). \"I began to doubt myself and wondered if I could still beat others in the competition.\"
The turning point came with the support of Sun Jun, the Chinese national team's men's singles coach. Their relationship dates back to 2014 when Sun coached Shi to a gold medal in the boys' singles at the Nanjing Youth Olympics. Sun's return to the men's singles coaching position in 2022 helped rekindle their connection, providing Shi with the guidance he needed to regain his form.
Under Sun's mentorship, Shi's performance has been stellar this year. He clinched four titles and demonstrated remarkable confidence in training. \"Badminton has become more complicated than before and details will decide if you can perform your best. I want to win. I want to stay hungry for victory, but I'm also in a mindset I like, that I don't have to be the one in the top position,\" Shi explained.
Sun added, \"Shi's performance this year was excellent. He won four titles and looked confident in training. I think today's Shi Yuqi can match Axelsen.\"
As Shi looks ahead to the Paris Olympics, his focus remains clear. \"I want to win the title, but I will try not to stress about it,\" he stated. \"I will try to maintain the good form I'm in right now, and improve it if possible. I will give my best in Paris.\"
Reference(s):
Hardships can't beat shuttler Shi Yuqi, but only make him stronger
cgtn.com
