Chen Long Retires? Latest Response: Only Retired from the National Team

Jayce September 6, 2024 6 0

On May 12, Xia Xuanze, the head coach of the national badminton men’s singles team, confirmed that Chen Long has retired. In an interview with Xiamen Daily, Chen Long stated that he has only retired from the national team, as the Fujian Provincial Badminton Team hopes he can still participate in the 2025 National Games. “I also want to give it a try and strive to participate in my sixth National Games.”

Chen Long explained that he is currently recovering and training in Beijing. “Years of high-intensity training and competitions have left me with various knee and back injuries. I hope everything goes smoothly so I can participate in the National Games for the sixth time.”

When it comes to badminton and the men’s singles competition at the National Games, Chen Long and Lin Dan, also from Fujian, have both participated five times. If Chen Long can compete in the 2025 National Games, he will undoubtedly become the first person in the history of men’s singles badminton to achieve this feat.

Chen Long has collected a bronze medal, a gold medal, and a silver medal in the men’s singles badminton competition at the London, Rio, and Tokyo Olympics, respectively. Chen Long has always been grateful to coach Lin Jiangli, who selected him from Jingzhou to join the Xiamen team.

In the 1980s, Lin Jiangli, along with Luan Jin and Lin Ying, won numerous world badminton championships for Xiamen. Lin Jiangli also participated in the National Games three times, winning the men’s doubles and mixed doubles championships. In 2000, as the head coach of the Xiamen Badminton Team, Lin Jiangli once again traveled to Jingzhou to scout for talent. However, he did not see Chen Long, who had already gone to the Shenzhen team with his first coach.

In Jingzhou, Lin Jiangli heard other coaches describe Chen Long’s characteristics and immediately concluded that he was a promising talent. Before leaving Hubei, Lin Jiangli agreed with the coaches in Jingzhou to notify him immediately if Chen Long returned. Lin Jiangli felt regretful about missing Chen Long, but a few days later, he received news that Chen Long had been sent back from the Shenzhen team.

Lin Jiangli flew to Jingzhou that same day. After watching Chen Long train for just half an hour, he confirmed his previous judgment. Consequently, Chen Long quickly reported to the Xiamen team. Six years later, Chen Long was selected for the national team, beginning his journey to becoming a national champion, world champion, and Olympic champion.

Tonight, the retired Lin Jiangli reminisced about bringing Chen Long to the Xiamen team in an interview with Xiamen Daily.

He said, “Chen Long is very tall but has excellent defense, which is very rare among badminton players. His skills are very delicate, and his control of the shuttlecock is strong. He is also very self-disciplined.”

In Lin Jiangli’s view, Chen Long possesses a unique dominance characterized by his dedication and determination to badminton. “Chen Long can balance his love life and training well for the sake of badminton, which is also rare among athletes. If he can participate in six National Games, his strong self-discipline is the biggest contributor.”

After winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Chen Long returned to Xiamen to attend the 16th Readers’ Festival of Xiamen Daily to thank Xiamen fans and readers for their support.

At the opening ceremony of the Readers’ Festival that year, Chen Long was appointed as the image ambassador for Xiamen Daily. Chen Long emotionally said, “I am a Xiamen person. I came to Xiamen to train in 2000, and the following year, Xiamen Daily established the Readers’ Festival. I have a deep connection with the number 16; badminton is also made up of 16 feathers. Moreover, after winning the Olympic gold in 2016, I returned to Xiamen for the 16th Readers’ Festival. It truly is a special connection.”

The national badminton team is currently competing in the Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, with the experienced Chen Long providing technical guidance to the young players.