With Chen Qingchen on an extended break, Jia Yifan has teamed up with Li Wenmei, Zheng Yu, and Zhang Shuxian in recent international tournaments. However, in a recent interview, Jia revealed that while adapting to her new partners, she encountered various challenges. Deep down, she longs to reunite with Chen Qingchen.
Both Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, born in 1997, are often known as the “comedy duo” and “inspirational sisters” of the Chinese badminton team. After every match, their optimistic and cheerful attitudes always leave a positive impression on everyone. On the court, their resilience and fighting spirit, especially their ability to turn the tide in tough matches, consistently inspire fans.
Despite their playful off-court image, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan’s abilities are formidable. They held the world No. 1 ranking for 93 consecutive weeks, won four World Championship titles, and went from earning an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo to clinching Olympic gold in Paris. After ten years of partnership, they achieved their long-awaited Grand Slam dream, becoming one of the greatest women’s doubles teams in Chinese badminton history. During the Paris Olympics medal ceremony, Jia Yifan took off a ring from her own hand and placed it on Chen Qingchen’s finger, and the two made a “10” gesture together, symbolizing their decade-long journey.
However, behind the scenes of that Olympic gold medal lay countless injuries and hardships. At one point, Chen Qingchen even contemplated retiring.
In 2022, Chen Qingchen almost retired due to a severe injury to her left foot. “It was May 2022. My left foot had been in a constant state of sprain from intense training, which caused the bones to protrude, making it impossible for me to run on the court. It was the first time I had faced such a serious injury, to the point where I couldn’t even complete training,” Chen recalled. The doctors told her she needed surgery, and if not, her only other option would be to retire.
Just a month before the 2024 Paris Olympics, sudden injuries once again tested their Olympic preparation. Jia Yifan was hospitalized with a persistent high fever, leaving Chen Qingchen to train alone. “That was the toughest time for me mentally. The pressure was enormous. I thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I experienced many negative emotions and behaviors. I would cry alone in the corner and nearly broke down.” When Jia finally recovered, it was Chen Qingchen’s turn to face an injury. She suffered a calf strain during an Olympic simulation match, so severe that she couldn’t even move for days, leaving her in tears again.
On October 2, Chen Qingchen participated in a land dragon boat drumming experience in Foshan, Guangdong.
After realizing their Olympic dream in Paris, the duo’s ten-year journey to Olympic victory was complete. Chen Qingchen chose to take a break, returning to her hometown in Guangdong to engage in various social activities, and has yet to return to competition. “After such a long preparation cycle, I felt mentally and physically exhausted. I hold myself to very high standards. If I’m not in great physical condition for future challenges, I might choose to take a break and then make further plans,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jia Yifan has been trying out partnerships with Li Wenmei, Zheng Yu, and Zhang Shuxian, but she has faced various difficulties in adjusting to the new pairings, with unsatisfactory results. Thus, she still longs to reunite with Chen Qingchen. “I hope to continue partnering with Chen Qingchen, but everyone has different life choices. If there’s an opportunity, I would love to play with her again. Our goal is to compete in the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou at the end of the year. As for what happens next, we’ll see what the future holds,” Jia concluded.
