From Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang to Liu Yuchen and Huang Yaqiong: The Immortal Couples of Chinese Badminton
Jayce
These national players, while winning gold on the court, are also spreading love in their personal lives. Their partners are their strongest supporters, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. However, the “immortal couples” of Chinese badminton have also faced many untold challenges, from secret relationships to public declarations of love…
Too sweet! A real-life Parisian love story unfolds!
On the Paris Olympic stage, the “YaSi” duo—Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong—dominated with a 2:0 victory over their South Korean opponents, securing the mixed doubles gold medal.
After the match, a romantic scene unfolded in the badminton arena: Huang Yaqiong’s boyfriend, Liu Yuchen, proposed to her on the spot, winning her heart. Netizens were ecstatic, exclaiming how sweet it was!
In fact, Huang Yaqiong and Liu Yuchen are just one of many couples in Chinese badminton, including Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, Chen Long and Wang Shixian, Sun Jun and Ge Fei… It’s no wonder that China’s badminton team is known as the “team with the most couples.”
These athletes not only excel on the court but also share their love openly. Their partners are their strongest supporters, helping them to overcome challenges and achieve greatness.
Of course, the “immortal couples” of Chinese badminton have faced many untold challenges, from secret relationships to public declarations of love…
A Romantic Proposal for an Olympic Champion: The “YaSi” Duo Finds True Love
On the evening of August 2, the “YaSi” duo—Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong—secured the mixed doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics with a 2-0 victory over their South Korean rivals.
Immediately after the awards ceremony, as Huang Yaqiong stepped off the podium and waved to the audience, ready to leave, Liu Yuchen, a Chinese badminton men’s doubles player, called out to her with a bouquet of flowers in hand.
Liu Yuchen handed the bouquet to Huang Yaqiong and then knelt on one knee. At that moment, the entire arena held its breath. Huang Yaqiong was initially surprised, but then her face lit up with a smile as she covered her mouth in happiness.
Liu Yuchen then took out a small box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a sparkling ring. He proclaimed his love for Huang Yaqiong and loudly asked, “Will you marry me?”
Huang Yaqiong, with tears welling up in her eyes, nodded enthusiastically. In front of all the athletes, staff, reporters, and spectators, Liu Yuchen placed the ring on Huang Yaqiong’s finger.
In one match, Huang Yaqiong not only won a gold medal but also a diamond ring. This romantic moment in the city of love, Paris, made the internet buzz with excitement: “China not only won a gold medal but also gained a diamond on the podium!”
Netizens were quick to update their descriptions of the couple:
Huang Yaqiong: Won a gold medal, a diamond ring, a man, and a kiss at the Olympics.
Liu Yuchen: The first person in history to propose after winning an Olympic gold medal.
After the match, Huang Yaqiong was interviewed by reporters and said excitedly, “This summer couldn’t be more perfect.”
Behind this romantic proposal, the Chinese badminton coaching team had been planning for some time and even invited familiar media friends to capture this beautiful moment. Foreign journalists were also touched by the scene, eagerly taking photos and asking Chinese reporters about the man behind the proposal.
At the post-match press conference, when asked if she had anticipated the proposal, Huang Yaqiong said, “I had no idea; we were focused on preparing for the competition. It was a total surprise to be proposed to after winning the championship. So far, the ring seems to fit perfectly.”
Chinese badminton coach Xia Xuanze, a fellow Zhejiang native, humorously played the role of the “bride’s family,” jokingly saying, “Hey, you kid, proposing is such a big deal; why did you choose such a small diamond? And the flowers don’t seem grand enough!” His words were full of blessings for the couple.
As Huang Yaqiong’s golden partner, Zheng Siwei also offered his congratulations: “Last time, I proposed after losing in Tokyo, and this time, Yaqiong was proposed to after we won the championship, so her joy is even greater. It’s a double celebration, and I’m truly happy for her.”
Speaking of proposals, Zheng Siwei himself is quite the expert. Back in September 2021, after the Tokyo Olympics and the National Games, Zheng Siwei announced on Weibo that he had successfully proposed after a nine-year relationship.
At the proposal scene, surrounded by pink arches and flowers, Zheng Siwei, dressed in a light blue suit with short, neatly cut hair, looked dashing. He first presented his girlfriend with a large bouquet of roses, then knelt on one knee and, after saying his vows, offered a diamond ring, to which his girlfriend smilingly agreed.
Netizens left messages of congratulations:
“So sweet, Siwei, you must be happy!”
“Tears of joy for my idol, may you and your girlfriend have a lifetime of love and happiness!”
“Siwei is really sunshine personified; who could resist?”
Earlier media reports revealed that Zheng Siwei’s girlfriend is also an athlete. Zheng Siwei often shows his affection on social media, once even writing, “Meeting you is my greatest fortune.” His girlfriend’s posts on short video platforms are also entirely about him.
In fact, the Chinese badminton team has a long-standing tradition of “internal relationships,” a reflection of the team’s understanding and acceptance of love.
Unlike the strict rules in the table tennis team, the Chinese badminton team has openly stated that they do not oppose players dating, but there are some unwritten rules, such as “male players can date after 25, and female players after 23.” The most important rule is that relationships should not affect performance or violate team discipline.
This relatively relaxed and humane atmosphere has allowed many high-profile couples to emerge within the team…
From “Secret Love” to Public Declarations: Hidden Sorrows Behind the Scenes?
When it comes to the “immortal couples” of Chinese badminton, many people first think of Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang.
In the 2007 All England Open Badminton Championships, Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang both won singles titles, with Lin Dan first claiming the men’s title, followed by Xie Xingfang’s victory in the women’s singles.
During the award ceremony, while Xie Xingfang was on the podium, Lin Dan walked over with nine roses in hand and boldly kissed her in front of the media, publicly revealing their relationship.
At that moment, Xie Xingfang was overwhelmed with mixed emotions—both surprised and apprehensive.
She was thrilled because Lin Dan’s public declaration of love made her feel like the happiest woman in the world. But she also worried about the uncertainties of the future. She secretly vowed to train even harder, achieve even better results, and avoid giving the coaches any reason to criticize their relationship.
After leaving the court, Xie Xingfang found her concerns were unnecessary.
The media overwhelmingly supported the “champion couple,” dubbing them the “Condor Heroes” of badminton, and even the coaches, rather than being furious, simply teased them for their acting skills.
Three years later, in December 2010, Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang quietly registered their marriage, putting off their wedding for the sake of their careers. When Lin Dan was preparing for the Olympics, Xie Xingfang not only cheered him on but also planned their wedding, becoming a “superwoman bride.”
In September 2012, after nine years of dating, Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang held their wedding at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, with a star-studded guest list and Bai Yansong serving as the wedding host.
The wedding was not open to the public or the media, but it still attracted a large crowd, with some even bringing binoculars and long-focus cameras to get a better view.
Why hold the wedding at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium? Lin Dan won his first Olympic gold medal there in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Xie Xingfang won the silver in women’s singles at the same venue.
Lin Dan carefully planned every detail of the wedding, even designing the invitations to resemble Olympic tickets, with a barcode hiding the message “Love you forever.” The venue was decorated in light purple and ivory, Xie Xingfang’s favorite colors. A wall at the venue was covered with over 1,600 photos, documenting their love story.
During the wedding, Bai Yansong asked Xie Xingfang, “What has Lin Dan done that moved you the most?”
She replied, “Lin Dan never lets me wash dishes because he says the detergent is harmful to my hands.”
Lin Dan then made a public declaration: “I have long thought about marriage. Playing badminton used to be the most important thing in my life, but now it’s different. Family is as important as playing badminton.”
However, the story took a turn later on. During Xie Xingfang’s pregnancy, Lin Dan’s inappropriate behavior was exposed, but she quickly chose to forgive him, and the couple’s popularity declined. Since then, Xie Xingfang has often appeared as a strong, independent woman, evoking both admiration and sympathy from former fans.
After Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, Chen Long and Wang Shixian became known as the “Golden Boy and Jade Girl” of Chinese badminton.
At 35, Chen Long retired from the national team last year. He won the men’s singles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Wang Shixian, who is a year younger than him, had won one Sudirman Cup and three Uber Cups before retiring from the national team in 2017.
As key members of the national team, Chen Long and Wang Shixian first met when they joined the national second team in 2006, and they began their relationship in 2007. In April 2024, Chen Long reminisced about their early romance, saying, “She was the most beautiful, and I was the most handsome. At 19, I took the initiative to confess my feelings to her.”
Later, the couple experienced a five-year “underground relationship.” In 2013, during a visit to Jiuzhaigou by the national team, their close interactions led to speculation about their relationship. Their romance was again exposed at the All England Open the following year.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Chen Long, under immense pressure, defeated Lee Chong Wei to win the gold medal. He made a heart gesture to Wang Shixian from a distance, publicly revealing their relationship. Although Wang Shixian did not participate in the Rio Olympics, she supported Chen Long throughout the event, serving as his cheerleader and private chef. Shortly after the Rio Olympics, Wang Shixian announced her retirement from the national team.
In November 2017, to mark their tenth anniversary, Chen Long surprised Wang Shixian with a proposal. Media reports stated that Chen Long declared his love for her, leaving Wang Shixian in tears. “Once, Shixian asked me ‘when will we get married?’ I was caught off guard and said we could get married anytime, which made her cry immediately.” Unaware of the plan, Wang Shixian eventually accepted the proposal, and the couple embraced passionately. Chen Long later revealed they would register their marriage by the end of the year. He also posted a photo of them holding hands on Weibo, captioned “Holding your hand,” to which Wang Shixian replied, “Growing old together.”
Before Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, the “fairy-tale couple” of Chinese badminton was Sun Jun and Ge Fei. Sun Jun, once the top male singles player, and Ge Fei, the “big devil” of women’s doubles, were regarded as a match made in heaven. Unlike the open attitudes of today, coaches at that time were concerned that romantic relationships might affect performance and results, so Sun Jun and Ge Fei could not publicly acknowledge their relationship initially. It wasn’t until 1995, when the Chinese badminton team won the Sudirman Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, that their relationship was officially accepted.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Ge Fei, alongside her partner Gu Jun, won the women’s doubles gold medal, leading Chinese badminton to its first Olympic gold. Over the following three years, Ge Fei and Gu Jun dominated various tournaments, winning numerous titles including the World Championships, World Cup, and the World Badminton Series Finals. They also successfully defended their women’s doubles gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Meanwhile, Sun Jun also achieved significant success, winning the men’s singles title at the 1999 World Badminton Championships. Although he suffered an injury at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he redeemed himself by winning the mixed doubles gold at the 2001 National Games with Ge Fei, marking a memorable moment in badminton.
Subsequently, Ge Fei and Sun Jun retired from their athletic careers and married, holding a warm wedding ceremony in Nanjing. As of 2024, Sun Jun serves as a coach for the badminton team at the Paris Olympics.
The “National Badminton Three Musketeers” of the 1980s—Yang Yang, Xiong Guobao, and Zhao Jianhua—were also romantically involved. Yang Yang married Zheng Yuli, Xiong Guobao found his partner in Qian Ping, and Zhao Jianhua was with Wu Wenjing.
Former Chinese national badminton head coach Li Yongbo frequently explained, “It is a person’s right to have a relationship at the appropriate age; athletes are also human, and we understand their emotions.” He emphasized, “However, athletes differ from ordinary people; they carry the mission of representing their country. We advocate for the right to have relationships as long as it does not compromise their mission.”
In reality, badminton players’ relationships receive coach approval mainly when they successfully balance their personal and professional lives, achieving success in both love and career. Many couples become each other’s best partners and strong support systems for winning titles.
For instance, Chen Long and Wang Shixian have weathered over a decade of ups and downs together. When either faced challenges or needed support in their careers, they were always there for each other. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, even though Wang Shixian was not part of the team, she supported Chen Long throughout the event, providing him with logistical support. This allowed Chen Long to focus on his performance and ultimately win gold. Similarly, during the National Games, when Chen Long finished his competition early, he became Wang Shixian’s support, helping with her luggage, waiting for her interviews, and even doing laundry.
Now retired, Chen Long mainly focuses on spending more time with his family. He is grateful for Wang Shixian’s support and believes it is time to give more attention to his family. However, he will not completely leave badminton; he remains a coach for the national team, focusing on men’s singles, and has also established a badminton tournament named after himself with a sponsor.
Additionally, Zheng Siwei appreciates his girlfriend’s support throughout their journey from the provincial team to the national team.
