Recently, the Chinese badminton team won the Sudirman Cup, with Chen Yufei clinching the final match point.
After winning the last point against An Se-young, she knelt on the ground, releasing her inner excitement. She then embraced her teammates, fully enjoying the victory and the deafening cheers from the crowd.
Even though a week has passed since that final, everything remains vivid in Chen Yufei’s mind.

“The entire process was extremely tough, but I persisted. I didn’t avoid it, nor did I compromise,” she summarized her performance on the court in an interview with The Paper.
“Persistence” truly captures Chen Yufei’s badminton spirit—from being doubted in her youth to being challenged after her Olympic victory, repeatedly making comebacks despite poor physical condition… Her “stubbornness” has never wavered.
“Maybe I’m just the kind of person who never turns back without hitting a wall.”
“Fight to the End”

Many people believed Chen Yufei wouldn’t play in the Sudirman Cup final against the formidable South Korean team.
In the previous semi-final, the Chinese team narrowly reversed the Japanese team 3-2, with Chen Yufei losing badly to her old rival Akane Yamaguchi in the women’s singles match. At that time, Chen Yufei was far from her best form.
However, Chen Yufei appeared in the final—facing South Korean prodigy An Se-young, who had beaten her three times this year. She played a spectacular match, directly securing the championship trophy for the Chinese team.
Chen Yufei truly gave her all for this match.
Before the match, the team considered not sending Chen Yufei to the final, but eventually, they placed their hopes on this experienced player. “We believed Chen Yufei could hold on during a stalemate,” said Zhang Jun, President of the Chinese Badminton Association.
When asked by her coach if she could play in the final, Chen Yufei had no hesitation.
“I said I would adjust my body and mindset positively, give it my all, and fight to the end,” Chen Yufei recalled in a summary posted on her social media.
In her interview with The Paper, she said she never considered any other choice, “The team was willing to trust me and chose me without hesitation. I couldn’t let them down. It was indeed risky, but I am grateful I managed to succeed.”
Throughout the Sudirman Cup, Chen Yufei wasn’t in her best physical condition, dealing with some injuries and the added complication of her menstrual period, which even medication couldn’t alleviate.
Even during the quarterfinals and semifinals, she felt nauseous multiple times but endured it to not affect the team’s morale. For Chen Yufei, just standing on the court and playing was already quite challenging.
Why fight so hard? Chen Yufei said the team nature of the Sudirman Cup was a crucial reason. “The coaches and teammates put in a lot of effort, and I couldn’t let their efforts go to waste.”
After the award ceremony, Chen Yufei was exhausted and told The Paper that she had no energy left to celebrate, “Too tired.”
“You Can Criticize Me, But I Never Back Down”

For both Chen Yufei and the entire Chinese badminton team, this Sudirman Cup championship was hard-earned.
Despite playing on home ground, the team faced tough luck in the knockout stage draw, encountering strong opponents Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea consecutively, with no breathing space.
“It’s about facing it calmly. Everyone just does their best and prepares fully, without fear or hesitation.”
“The entire process was extremely tough, but I persisted. I didn’t avoid it, nor did I compromise. This was important to me, and I finally succeeded.”
In Chen Yufei’s view, playing through the three knockout matches with physical issues, each match was a tough battle. “Besides Akane Yamaguchi and An Se-young, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung was also a difficult opponent, and every encounter was grueling.”
In 2017, as a young player on the national team, Chen Yufei experienced the bitterness of losing the Sudirman Cup. Since then, she has grown and helped China reclaim the Sudirman Cup twice in 2019 and 2021.
Unknowingly, this former junior player has become the backbone of the women’s singles team.
Especially after standing on the top podium at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she has become the undisputed key player shouldering the heavy responsibility.
Talking about the Sudirman Cup experience, she mentioned two words to The Paper: responsibility.
“From 2019 until now, and after winning the Olympic championship, I feel obliged to show the attitude and spirit of the Chinese badminton team to the world.”
As Chen Yufei stated, “Fans can criticize me, say I am not as skilled, but don’t underestimate my faith, determination, and courage to never back down.”
No matter the physical condition, “I have never given up any match, never avoided any responsibility that I should bear.”
“A Small Goal for Each Match”
Carrying the Olympic champion’s halo, Chen Yufei bears the expectations of the audience on the court, but this halo also brings more pressure.
“Because I achieved such results, opponents always come with the mindset of challenging me, having a better mentality than mine. This makes it more difficult and challenging for me,” she told The Paper.
Facing this reality, Chen Yufei quickly adjusted after initial discomfort. “From last year to now, I have been gradually adjusting, and the results are good.”
“I now feel that everyone, every opponent, every person around me has something I can learn from, so my small goal for each match is to learn from them.”
With such humility and modesty, Chen Yufei faces the challenges of the Paris Olympic qualification series at her own pace.
For Chen Yufei, who has already reached the pinnacle at the Tokyo Olympics, the new cycle presents many challenges, such as maintaining physical health, preparing for opponents’ targeted strategies, and the rise of new-generation players like An Se-young.
But as she said, the road needs to be walked step by step, and all she can do is give her best.
“Although I am not in my best form now, I am still in the first tier and need to be more confident. If I maintain good physical condition, I think I still have a great chance to defend my title.”
“But this process will definitely be very tough, so it’s about taking one step at a time and doing every detail well to strive for this goal.”
Chen Yufei’s thousand-word essay thanking the national team.
“I Am Just Stubborn”

In fact, in her youth, Chen Yufei was not considered a “genius” and was once considered for returning to the provincial team. However, her persistence and determination helped her stand out and eventually become an Olympic champion.
On the court, her playing style is not aggressive, but inside, she has her own strength.
When fans see Chen Yufei competing despite poor physical condition, they often feel heartache for her, but Chen Yufei sees it as a form of training.
“If the injury is not too serious, I will persist because I believe that excellent athletes must learn to coexist with injuries. Constantly challenging myself in such adversities helps me improve and makes me mentally stronger.”
“My characteristic is being stubborn. Maybe I am the type who never turns back without hitting a wall. So, when faced with difficulties, I don’t choose to escape. Even if the outcome might not be great, I will still face it because only by confronting it can I be braver than my opponent at critical moments.”
Now, having experienced various trials in her career, a more mature and courageous Chen Yufei continues to chase her dreams in badminton.
After the Sudirman Cup victory, she quickly returned to training with her teammates, preparing for the next match—”No one wants to lose once on the court, so don’t let yourself down.”
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