Yasi Claims Six Consecutive Titles After Reuniting, Success Secret Lies in Mutual Appreciation

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

On July 10, at the conclusion of the BWF Malaysia Masters, the Chinese badminton mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong defeated Indonesia’s Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari 2-0, securing their sixth consecutive open title and extending their winning streak to 30 matches. After a disappointing loss in the Tokyo Olympics final and an early exit at the World Championships, the “Yasi” pair seemed to have hit their lowest point since pairing up. Earlier this year, the Chinese badminton coaching team tried to split the duo, sparking considerable controversy. Since reuniting at the Philippines Championships in early May, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong have been on a championship streak in Southeast Asia. Beijing News interviewed experts to analyze the reasons behind their comeback to the top.

Strong Comeback

Yasi Reunited for Six Consecutive Titles

At the Tokyo Olympics, Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong and Huang Dongping/Wang Yilu were China’s mixed doubles “double insurance,” with both pairs reaching the finals as expected. However, the favored Yasi failed to win, and the same scenario repeated at the National Games over a month later. At the end of last year, after a first-round bye at the World Championships, they were unexpectedly defeated by Hong Kong’s Chang Tak Ching and Ng Wing Yung in the second round, facing a major crisis at the peak of their careers.

At the beginning of this year, the Chinese badminton team officially started the Paris Olympic cycle, undergoing large-scale reorganization of doubles pairs, which included splitting Yasi, causing significant controversy. Some even began to worry that China’s mixed doubles dominance would be hard to maintain in the new cycle. After starting to compete with new partners, Huang Yaqiong and Ou Xuanyi finished runners-up at the German Open and Gwangju Korea Masters, and reached the quarterfinals at the Korea Open; Zheng Siwei and Zhang Shuxian’s best result was also the Gwangju Masters quarterfinals.

At this year’s All England Open, Yasi briefly reunited but lost to Huang Dongping and Wang Yilu in the semifinals. As a Super 1000 event, the All England Open requires high rankings, so Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong’s temporary reunion was just a stopgap, and the coaching team did not seize the opportunity to permanently end their split.

Their real reunion began with the Southeast Asian season at the Asian Championships. On May Day, Yasi defeated Huang Dongping and Wang Yilu 21-17, 21-8 in the final, ending their Olympic, National Games, and All England losses to their teammates, reclaiming the world number one ranking and starting their strong comeback: they subsequently won the Thailand Open, Indonesia Open and Masters, and the Malaysia Open and Masters, clinching five consecutive titles.

At the Malaysia Masters last week, despite visible fatigue from back-to-back competitions, they managed to overcome challenges with their strength and willpower, achieving a remarkable 30-match winning streak in just over two months. After continuous competitions, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong withdrew from this week’s Singapore Open to prepare for the World Championships in a month.

Secret to Success

Psychological Boost from Separation and Reunion

Compared to their six consecutive titles, Zheng Siwei believes their greater achievement is maintaining performance despite fatigue. Huang Yaqiong admitted that the overall effect of forcibly boosting their excitement was not ideal, so winning was somewhat unexpected. Reflecting on their journey out of the slump, both viewed their Asian Championships victory as a turning point. “It marked our official reunion, and winning the championship greatly boosted our confidence,” said Zheng Siwei.

While the public questioned or regretted their split, sources informed Beijing News that the separation was only temporary. Insiders pointed out that it was a viable option, as continued pairing without resolving issues would be the worst outcome.

After winning the Thailand Open, Zhang Jun, Chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association and head coach of the national doubles team, stated, “Splitting them was to relieve some pressure, allowing them to regain their rhythm and rediscover each other’s strengths through partnering with different young players. I believe it was a good decision.”

In two months, winning six consecutive titles reflects Zhang Jun’s observation that they have rediscovered each other’s strengths and returned to the top with a more mature mindset. After last week’s victory, Huang Yaqiong remarked that mutual trust and determination in court were key to their smoother cooperation. “Even if I lose a point, we can work together to win the next one,” she said. Zheng Siwei added that they now achieve more together, “People might fear my smashes, but it’s also Huang Yaqiong’s presence at the net that creates pressure on opponents.”

Experts interviewed by Beijing News on the 12th noted that Yasi’s current winning streak is not due to new tactics but a psychological uplift. “Despite the difficulties they faced, their strength remains. Even affected by injuries and mindset issues, Yaqi is still a formidable opponent for players from other regions,” one expert said. During their slump, they only lost one “external” match at the World Championships. Their quick return to form within five months of reuniting, regaining their chemistry immediately, showcases top athletes’ capabilities. More importantly, “They must have deeply reflected as individuals and as a pair. Their mutual trust and improvement despite challenges are more valuable than a smooth journey, and they will cherish this hard-earned success.”

After concluding their Open tournament journey, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong will focus on preparing for the World Championships in Japan at the end of August. They plan to review and address issues from this year’s competitions. “We hope to present an even better version of ourselves,” Huang Yaqiong said. Experts also believe Yasi will perform more maturely and stably than last year. “With thorough communication with coaches and preparation for difficulties, good results will come naturally as long as they play their best.”