Chinese women’s singles player Xu Wenjing defeated teammate Yin Yiqing 19-21, 23-21, 21-11 to claim the women’s singles title at the 2024 World Junior Badminton Championships.
Q: The second game was tough. How did you turn it around?
Xu Wenjing: My opponent has been very aggressive since the Asian Junior Championships, and she has improved a lot. Plus, she had the advantage of playing at home. To win this gold, I had to overcome various challenges, and this match was a great test for me.
Q: What does winning this gold medal mean to you?
Xu Wenjing: This gold medal isn’t just my personal honor; it also belongs to my coach who has been with me throughout the tournament. It’s been eight years since China won the women’s singles title at the World Junior Championships, so I’m thrilled to bring it back. I feel like I’m starting from scratch again, and if I have the chance to compete next year, my goal will still be gold.
Q: The World Junior Championships span a long period. How did you manage the transition from team events to individual competitions?
Xu Wenjing: There’s always some fatigue transitioning from team to individual events, but the 11-point format in the team matches consumes less energy. I focused on relaxing, getting treatment, and maintaining the right mindset between games. I just took each match one at a time without overburdening myself.
Q: What was the toughest moment for you?
Xu Wenjing: The second game of the final was the hardest. After losing the first game, I kept reminding myself of all the effort I had put in and that I had to push myself. Both my teammate and I wanted this championship, so I kept encouraging myself to stay focused and not let distractions get in the way. In the second game, when I managed to hold on during the key points, my confidence grew, and that momentum carried into the third game.
Q: Chen Yufei is your idol. What do you hope to learn from her?
Xu Wenjing: Chen Yufei is like an older sister to us. I know I still have areas to improve, especially in terms of my mindset and strategies. I hope to learn from her how to remain emotionally stable when facing challenges.
