Category: Star Zone

Fast forward two years, and the “Liang-Wang” duo is no longer the same. They have now risen to become the world’s number-one men’s doubles pair, with eight championship titles to their name. Their recent performance at the Paris Olympics truly thrust them into the spotlight, making them a focal point in badminton. They garnered unprecedented attention, so much so that even casual remarks landed them in the trending topics. Interview requests poured in, fashion magazines featured them repeatedly, and despite the supposed off-season, the pair’s lives extended far beyond the court, bringing them experiences that were previously unimaginable.

Now, as they grace the cover once again, still youthful and stylish, they are preparing to embark on a new journey. Returning to their beloved badminton court, they are determined to continue their fight in the new cycle. After all they’ve been through, they’ve never been clearer about their goals: badminton remains their foundation, and striving for great results is their unwavering pursuit!

Paris Finale: The World Takes Notice

The Paris Olympics captivated millions, with the Chinese delegation claiming 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals—a record for an overseas Olympic Games. Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, as the top seeds, breezed through the group stage and defeated Indonesia’s Alfian/Ardianto and Malaysia’s Chia/Soh in the knockout rounds to reach the finals. Facing the Chinese Taipei pair in the finals, Liang/Wang fought fiercely through tough moments, battling until the last minute of the 76-minute clash. They narrowly lost the decider by two points.

As they stood on the podium at the La Chapelle Sports Hall, the weight of their silver medals brought a mix of emotions—both the pride of earning a silver in their first Olympics and the bitterness of falling short. In the press conference, they managed to smile but spoke from the heart: “This silver medal is our motivation to push forward.”

If the preparation and participation periods of the Olympics were quiet and isolated, the moment they stepped down from the podium, their world turned upside down. Suddenly, the quiet gave way to noise—messages from family and friends, waves of event invitations, and hundreds of unread notifications. Their social media feeds exploded with likes and comments, and more voices and information flooded their lives.

Reading through their phones in Paris, they initially thought this was just the usual post-Olympic buzz. Liang Weikeng recalled, “At first, we thought it was just the Olympic spotlight, with more people paying attention. But we didn’t expect things to heat up this much.”

Back to China: Shocked Upon Arrival

What truly stunned them, though, was the real-world manifestation of this online attention when they returned to China.

On the afternoon of August 7, the Chinese badminton team, having claimed two golds and three silvers, arrived back in Beijing from Paris. As soon as they exited the gate, the sheer number of fans at the airport shocked them. The arrival hall was packed with badminton supporters, so much so that there was barely any space to move a suitcase freely.

Recalling the scene, Wang Chang is still amazed: “When I was pushing my luggage out, I could barely move forward as the crowd started closing in. Soon, my hand slipped from my luggage handle, and thankfully, security helped me get it to the bus.” What followed was the now-viral scene of Wang Chang sprinting to the team bus, trying to evade the chasing crowd. “That moment made me realize that life was about to change in ways I hadn’t expected.”

“Holiday” Life: A Full Experience

For over a month after the Olympics, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang attended the Chinese Sports Delegation’s debriefing, returned to their respective provinces, and participated in many local activities and meetings. Despite being back home, their schedules were packed, and they barely had two or three days to reunite with family. Their “holiday” was a whirlwind of experiences, far removed from their usual training and competition routines.

Unlike the closed training or traveling for tournaments, this period allowed Liang and Wang to plan their own time. It was a break, but also filled with events, interviews, photoshoots, and even variety shows. Everything was new and exciting for them, yet also busy. “Our horizons broadened, and we met so many outstanding people from different fields,” they said.

From rookies to regulars, their perception of appearing in magazines has changed completely. Wang Chang reminisced, “Before 2023, I had only been on the cover of Badminton magazine. In 2023, we were featured in a fashion magazine once, which left a deep impression. But now, in just one month, we’ve appeared in four or five magazines.”

Constant Hot Topics: The Attention and Its Challenges

With their Olympic fame and skyrocketing popularity, online discussions about Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang multiplied exponentially in the month following the Games. “Every move we make gets amplified. Sometimes even casual remarks, like my famous ‘Are you really that good?’ catchphrase, will trend. I’ve been saying that for years as a joke with close friends, but now it’s blown out of proportion,” shared Liang Weikeng. The increased attention brought them new experiences but also certain challenges.

As their lives changed, they began to understand themselves more clearly. Previously, they were simply athletes, training in closed environments, focusing on performing their best on the court. The court was their stage, while their private lives were relatively hidden.

“Now, it feels a little different,” said Wang Chang. “We’ve become public figures. Even when we’re not on the court, everything we say or do is noticed and sometimes even magnified.”

Wang continued, “When fans ask for photos or autographs at events or matches, we usually agree as long as it doesn’t disrupt the moment. But there are times when it gets overwhelming. Some private moments, like family visits, have been impacted. For example, once, while we were dining in a private room, someone slipped their phone through the curtain to take pictures, which was really unsettling.”

Return to Changzhou: Post-Olympics Debut Draws Attention

In August, the “Liang-Wang” duo skipped the Korea and Japan tournaments. They had already decided, after consulting with their coach, that their first competition after the Olympics would be the China Open in Changzhou. During their busy break, they gradually started physical recovery. Despite frequent events, Liang Weikeng would visit the gym almost daily or every other day, doing light workouts, cycling, or jogging. Though the intensity wasn’t high, years of training had instilled the habit, and maintaining physical fitness is crucial for injury prevention.

“When we chose to take a break, we allowed our bodies to fully rest. There was no pressure to train hard. But considering the upcoming competition, I still did some recovery work, especially to maintain strength, which is key to injury prevention,” Liang explained.

Before arriving in Changzhou, Liang and Wang had been training only half-days, with various activities and travel taking up the rest of their time. In total, they had less than ten full days of practice. Their coach, Chen Qiqiu, mentioned that both he and the players had low expectations for the China Open. Liang Weikeng candidly admitted, “We’re not geniuses. It’s unrealistic to perform well without proper training.” Chen added, “While some top pairs are absent, the competition is still fierce. Given their limited training, our main goals are to stay healthy and see if their understanding of the game has improved post-Olympics.”

On September 17, the China Open kicked off, and the “Liang-Wang” pair faced challenges from the start. In their first-round match against France’s Popov brothers, they staged a comeback from 18-20 to win the first game 22-20 and secured the second game 21-16. However, in the second round, Indonesia’s newly-formed pair, Fikri/Martin, posed a stronger challenge, and Liang/Wang ultimately lost in the decider 17-21, exiting in the second round.

Despite being the world’s top-ranked pair, defending champions, and Olympic silver medalists, their early exit sparked heated discussions.

Liang Weikeng reflected on the result: “We fought hard, but we didn’t have the usual training base and touch. Taking a break had its impact. But on the bright side, we avoided injuries and showed that we can still compete strongly even without full preparation.”

Wang Chang added, “After this month of rest, there were trade-offs. We weren’t at our best physically, and pushing too hard might have led to injuries. I believe staying healthy is important, for ourselves, the team, and our fans.”

Review of the Final: Unrepeatable Tension

Although they didn’t perform well in Changzhou, Chen Qiqiu still saw progress in his two disciples: “I noticed their playing strategies becoming clearer. Despite some mistakes, and although it’s incomparable to systematic training, they now understand how to approach each shot. The direction and coordination are on the right track, and what’s left is refining the completeness. Especially after watching several young pairs in the past two tournaments, the clarity brought by the main pairs’ experience will become more apparent.”

Speaking of progress in strategy, we must mention the men’s doubles final on August 4th. After fighting their way to the final, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang admitted to feeling nervous and empty-minded when facing the defending champions. Even though they and the coach had prepared thoroughly, watched countless videos, held numerous meetings, and gone through plenty of ups and downs in the past two years, they still couldn’t shake the tension when stepping onto the Olympic final court.

“In the final, there was this blank feeling in my mind — both excitement and nerves. It felt like my first World Junior Championship final, where it was hard to think clearly, and the match seemed to end in a flash. That pressure, that atmosphere, might never be the same again in my lifetime,” Wang Chang vividly recalls that emotional weight and pressure.

Of course, the silver medal was hard-earned. Recalling that moment, Chen Qiqiu said, “I definitely hoped they’d win the title, but this result is something we need to accept. We must recognize the fruits of our preparation and their outstanding performance throughout the tournament. Training and competition are directly linked. I also appreciate the relaxed and joyful energy they brought to the audience, while showcasing their mental fortitude. They have indeed contributed to raising interest in badminton, and we are proud of their effort in winning the silver medal.”

The New Cycle: Staying True to Their Original Intention

After a period of relaxation, especially after the Changzhou tournament, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang will gradually return to their regular routines. “This past month has been special and is not comparable to future training, competition, and daily life,” is something all three—coach and players—agree on. However, both Chen Qiqiu and the pair admit that the current online environment, public opinion, and their personal lives are vastly different from before the Paris Olympics. The changes are real and rapid, requiring even coaches to take time to understand, experience, and adapt.

The Olympics brought unprecedented attention to them and to badminton, heating up the sport. This is a typical characteristic of the internet era, and positively, it helps promote the spirit of sports. Over this past month, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang have experienced a more diverse life, feeling the richness that badminton has brought them. But this hasn’t made them complacent; rather, it has made them more clear-headed and determined to focus on badminton.

Wang Chang said, “We’re happy to be loved by so many netizens. Attention to the sport is a good thing, and we hope to give everyone more positive guidance, to be mindful of our words and actions, and to bring more attention to badminton. Actually, there’s no need to change too much deliberately. I think the best promotion is doing well ourselves and playing well.”

Liang Weikeng added, “After going through this two-year cycle, we’re starting over again. We may carry the titles of young world No.1s, Olympic silver medalists, or even social media stars. These labels might cause some changes in our mindset, but what we hope to maintain is the mentality of attacking every opponent on the court.”

Chen Qiqiu often talks with Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang: “Everything happening now can be another source of motivation. The Olympic silver medal is in the past. If you want to step up to the next level, what will that look like? And how will you break it down into stages over these next four years to achieve that goal?”

Even though everything has changed, it hasn’t altered their determination to climb higher and pursue the championship. Wang Chang said when leaving Paris, “I’m heading to Los Angeles next.” So, with that original intention in mind, keep working hard and fighting for a future where the road ahead is always “bright!”