Jayce
In the current badminton world, two pairs have achieved enough to be enshrined in the history of their respective categories: Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan and Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong.
These two Chinese pairs have shown extraordinary self-improvement abilities, consistently staying ahead of their competitors. While many of their peers have gradually faded from the scene, these two pairs seem more unbeatable than ever. As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, they have become the top favorites for the gold medal.
Although they occasionally face minor setbacks, they always manage to quickly adjust and perform better, solidifying their leading positions in the rankings.
Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, both pairs lost in the finals. However, instead of falling into negative emotions, this experience has made them even stronger over the past two years.
Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong unexpectedly lost to Seo Seung-jae and Chae Yoo-jung in the 2023 World Championships final. They were defeated again by the Korean pair in the following China Open, seemingly suppressed by them. However, they won all six subsequent encounters. Their most recent match against the Korean pair was in the semifinals of the 2023 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, where they won easily with scores of 21-12 and 21-5.
Other pairs that have defeated Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, such as Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin, faced a similar situation. This world’s number one pair continues to improve their game in response to the impacts of their losses.
Huang Yaqiong said:
“We lose more matches than in previous years, but I think it’s a good thing. I feel that experiencing more gives us some reminders, and we become stronger after encountering problems.”
Zheng Siwei hopes they can achieve better results in 2024, as an Olympic gold medal is one of the major achievements they have yet to unlock.
Zheng Siwei said: “I think this year is about moving forward under pressure.”
This strong ability to solve problems and improve through review is precisely what sets these two pairs apart.
Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan
As Jia Yifan said:
“We are getting better and more mature year by year, and I like myself more this year. Regardless of the results, I feel we have grown mentally, including how we interact daily. I feel more comfortable. We understand each other better and understand ourselves better. This feeling is great.”
The Yasi and Fan Chen pairs are always eager to improve, keeping their opponents constantly vigilant. With the 2024 Malaysia Open about to start, both pairs hope to achieve good results in the season opener, setting a good tone for their Olympic year journey.
