Li Shifeng: The Key is Never to Give Up

Jayce September 6, 2024 3 0

Li Shifeng made a stunning breakthrough at the All England Open in March, attracting global attention. It was his first World Tour title, and his unique qualities have captured everyone’s notice.

The week before, he reached the final of the German Open. Li Shifeng defeated Kento Momota in the semifinals but lost a hard-fought final to Viktor Axelsen.

At the All England Open, he engaged in a grueling 95-minute battle against Anders Antonsen, demonstrating his tactical acumen in this demanding match.

Antonsen didn’t hesitate to praise his opponent, saying, “He played very well. Sometimes I think I’ve never faced a better player than him. He played with great determination and almost frantic pace.”

However, Li Shifeng initially struggled in the All England Open final against Shi Yuqi. Shi Yuqi had previously reached the All England Open final twice and won one championship. In a tense first game, Li Shifeng saved a match point with excellent defensive play, reminiscent of Chen Long.

In the second game, the experienced Shi Yuqi faltered, allowing Li Shifeng to comfortably secure his first Super 1000 title on the World Tour. The score in the second game was 21-5, indicating a significant gap in the final of the All England Open.

“I’m quite surprised by this result. Before this week, I didn’t even think I would reach the final,” Li Shifeng said.

“Every athlete faces challenges, and a good athlete has to put in more effort in training than others,” he added. “The key is never to give up. I felt some pressure before because my goals were high. I found that I perform better when I have less pressure, like I did in the final.”

Winning the All England Open significantly boosted his ranking. He now ranks 11th in the world, just one place behind Shi Yuqi. With the Olympic qualification period starting in May, Li Shifeng needs to maintain his form.

Li Shifeng’s peers such as Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Lakshya Sen, and Koki Watanabe have already shown strong performances in high-level competitions. Hindered by the pandemic, Li Shifeng participated in only three international tournaments in 2020 and 2021, forcing him to catch up with others. Now, he is catching up and attracting more attention to his promising future.