Jayce
For Chou Tien Chen, 2022 was a year filled with challenges and difficulties. He noticed that his opponents consistently pushed him to the backcourt, forcing him away from his comfort zone at the net.
“No one wants to play me at the net,” Chou Tien Chen joked. “My opponents started pushing me towards the backcourt, and throughout the year, I didn’t have many chances to make big breakthroughs at the net. They have found new tactics to deal with me.”
Currently ranked fourth in the world, Chou Tien Chen’s only championship last year came at the Chinese Taipei Open. Additionally, it was the first time he won a medal at the World Championships. At last year’s World Championships, Jonathan had five match points against Chou Tien Chen in the quarterfinals, but Chou Tien Chen managed a comeback with scores of 14-21, 21-11, 22-20, securing his first World Championships medal.
“My best moment in 2022 was definitely reaching the semifinals of the World Championships. When I play, winning or losing doesn’t matter. I focus on my attitude and pour everything into badminton; it’s incredible,” Chou Tien Chen said. “I always lost in the quarterfinals before this round, and I was always nervous in this round, so I’m glad to win this round.”
Chou Tien Chen admitted that he also faced many losses in crucial matches last season. After the World Championships, at the Japan Open, Chou Tien Chen reached the final and faced local favorite Kento Momota, but narrowly missed out on the championship trophy. “I was close to winning the championship, but once again, I failed,” Chou Tien Chen said. “I lost all the crucial matches, but there’s a lot to learn from these matches. My fighting spirit is the most important. I feel that I still need to be cautious in every match. When I’m not cautious enough, I don’t play well and I’m not outstanding on the court. It feels terrible.”
Despite the regrets of the past season, approaching his 33rd birthday, Chou Tien Chen expressed that fans can expect a stronger Chou Tien Chen in 2023. He also set three goals for himself: “My first goal is to secure qualification for the Olympics, then perform well at the World Championships and Asian Games. I look forward to returning to the tour and showing my best form. I didn’t finish 2022 strong, but I’m looking forward to the new year.”
In next week’s 2023 Malaysia Open, Chou Tien Chen has been drawn in the upper half and will face Chinese shuttler Shi Yuqi in the first round.
