Jayce
Chen Fanghui, who nicknamed herself “Fei Fei” due to her family’s endearing accent, has been quietly working hard and growing over the past few years. Last year, she made a breakthrough with Cheng Xing, and this year, she reached the top at the Super 500 tournament with Guo Xinwa. She candidly shared that there were moments of self-doubt in the past, especially during tough times, but emphasized the importance of believing in oneself and not overlooking one’s own light.
Different Disciplines, Different Partners
People used to say you were more suited for women’s doubles. What do you think?
Before joining the mixed doubles team, I mostly played women’s doubles. So initially, it was challenging to adjust my tactical thinking, and it’s understandable that people thought I was more suited for women’s doubles—I thought so too. But keep an eye on my progress!
You’ve played women’s doubles with Yue Jie. What do you think is the difference between playing mixed doubles and women’s doubles?
In mixed doubles, the woman needs to be highly focused at the net, with a keen sense of intercepting shots to create attacking opportunities for her male partner. The pace is faster, and the serve and return are crucial. In women’s doubles, the key is the few shots where you change the pace and go on the offensive, which determine whether you can gain the upper hand. Defense also needs to be wide and varied to limit the opponent’s attack, leading to longer rallies where both sides try to outmaneuver each other.
Have you considered playing women’s doubles? If so, who would you most like to partner with in women’s doubles and mixed doubles?
I really enjoy playing women’s doubles, and I’d like to partner with Pi Pi or Shu Xian. As for mixed doubles, maybe Seo Seung-jae? Yes, him! He seems very steady and composed on the court.
What do you think about people saying the “Fang-Wa” pairing is the gold and silver of Team China?
Really? I don’t think so. Maybe I resemble Zheng Na-eun a little? But Wa Zi definitely doesn’t look like Kim Won-ho!
Can you talk about the differences between partnering with Wa Zi and Cheng Xing?
Partnering with Cheng Xing was more about exploring and growing together. We had stronger offensive power, speed, and threat, but when we faced difficulties, we sometimes got too caught up in trying to help each other out, which led to missing the bigger picture. Wa Zi, on the other hand, is strong in organizing the rally and controlling the rhythm on the court. When something goes wrong, he clearly communicates what to do next. He’s more of a guide, leading me through the game.
“Fei Fei” – A Name from Home
What’s your MBTI type, Fei Fei? In interviews, you seem very introverted. Are you like that in daily life too?
ISFP. I’m quite introverted. I open up more once I get to know people, but at first, I’m quite socially anxious.
Besides Seventeen, do you have any other favorite K-pop groups?
Lately, I’ve been listening to Twice a lot.
Why do they call you “Fei Fei”? I’m really curious, please tell us the full story!
It’s because people from Hunan sometimes mix up the sounds for ‘h’ and ‘f’, so when I was little, my family would call me “Fei Fei” instead of “Hui Hui.” I eventually changed my online name to “Fei Fei,” and now everyone calls me that.
What kind of music do you like listening to, Fei Fei? Do you have any stress-relief techniques when you’re feeling overwhelmed?
I listen to a lot of K-pop, but sometimes it gets too noisy, so I switch to more familiar songs. When I need a break, I go to karaoke and sing my heart out!
What’s your favorite food, Fei Fei? Do you still like spicy food, or have you become less tolerant since moving to Dongguan?
I like both Hunan and Cantonese cuisine. I can still handle spicy food pretty well, but if I don’t have Hunan food for a while, my inner Hunan spirit starts craving it.
At what age did you move to Dongguan? Can you recommend some Hunan delicacies?
I moved to Dongguan at 11. As for Hunan delicacies, I’d recommend Xiangxi pickles!
Fanghui!! I’m your fan from Canada!!! Can you recommend a song you like for us fans?
Sure! I recommend “Small Girl” by Lee Yong Ji.
A Shared Birthday with Ya Ya
What was your first impression of Ya Ya when you first met her? How old were you? When did you discover you share the same birthday?
The first time I met Ya Ya was during a trial at the Hunan Provincial Team, and I thought she was really amazing and cute. I don’t quite remember how we discovered we had the same birthday, but I remember we hadn’t even added each other on WeChat yet, so I sent her a direct message on Weibo to wish her a happy birthday. Isn’t that funny? Later on, when we mentioned it again, I felt a bit embarrassed. We really got to know each other in 2015 during a national youth training camp in Jinjiang, and it felt like we were destined to be close friends—we clicked right away.
Since you and Ya Ya share the same birthday, do you have any similarities?
We have a lot in common, like similar tastes in food. When we first got to know each other and went out to eat, we were both amazed at how similar our preferences were—no wonder we share the same birthday!
Would you like to play women’s doubles with Ya Ya? That would be amazing! Have you ever trained together in women’s doubles?
We’d both love to! During the Australian Open, we even joked about signing up for women’s doubles to earn some extra money, haha. When we’re paired for women’s doubles in training, it’s usually the two of us together.
You and Ya Ya are close friends. Have you picked up any of her hobbies, like getting better at styling yourself or enjoying taking photos?
I usually only make an effort to dress up when I’m going out with her because we plan to take photos at specific spots. When I’m out alone or with other friends, I rarely do that. Ya Ya has a way of boosting my confidence—she’s always saying how great I look, and that really encourages me to keep posing for more photos!
I Can Win Championships Too
Of all the places you’ve competed, which is your favorite?
I like competing in China the most because it feels familiar, and the conditions are excellent. If I had to pick a place abroad, I’d choose Madrid!
How did you feel when you won the championship in Thailand?
I was so happy—it felt like I had conquered my own challenges. I realized that I, too, can win championships!
What got you into playing badminton, Fei Fei?
I used to get sick a lot as a child, so my parents sent me to learn badminton to improve my health.
What’s your routine before a match?
I try to stick to my usual training schedule as closely as possible and activate my body well in advance at the venue.
You didn’t win a World Tour title for a couple of years and had many ups and downs. Did you ever feel disappointed or doubt yourself, especially seeing your good friend Ya Ya rise so quickly? How have you navigated the past two years, and did you feel a sense of release and breakthrough recently?
Of course, there were moments of disappointment and self-doubt, especially after last year’s European tour. I was quite down during that time. Then in Shenzhen, we lost to the Korean pair “Seo-Choi” after leading 14-3. That was really tough to take. During the few months without tournaments, I kept adjusting myself.
Seeing Ya Ya rise so quickly, I wasn’t just concerned about her; our group also has many talented young players with great potential, which made me feel anxious at times. I often talked to Ya Ya, and she always supported my thoughts, encouraging me to relax and reminding me that life is more than just badminton. Eventually, I realized that anxiety and haste don’t actually help; they only lead to inner turmoil. If I kept focusing on others shining and paid too much attention to external opinions, I wouldn’t have been able to regain my balance.
So during that period, I tried to focus on my own feelings, paying attention only to myself and recognizing my own strengths and brilliance. Before heading to Southeast Asia with Wa Zi, I was both excited and apprehensive—excited to perform better, but also afraid I might not do any better than before. However, with each victory, I gradually regained my confidence and realigned my mindset. We started with nothing, so there’s no need to fear losing anything. I didn’t expect to perform so well in those tournaments, and breaking through my own limits made me really happy. I realized that I had been underestimating my potential, simply because I had boxed myself in. I’ve learned to balance gains and losses, knowing that many challenges still lie ahead, but I’m committed to staying grounded and believing in myself.
