Categories: Sports

Badminton great Chen Long ‘full of emotion’ as he retires at 34

BEIJING (AFP): Chinese badminton great Chen Long has announced his retirement aged 34, ending a decorated career that included Olympic gold and two world titles.

The former world number one won the Olympic crown at Rio 2016 and followed it up with silver at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

He has not played since and has now officially called it quits, following in the steps of legendary Chinese player and teammate Lin Dan, who retired in 2020.

“This is a difficult moment for me. It’s so hard to say goodbye,” Chen wrote on the Twitter-like Weibo late Friday.

“At this special moment, I’m really full of emotion. I want to say thank you to the Chinese badminton team, my family and the fans.

“Badminton is the love of my life. I was lucky enough to wear the national shirt and play for my country, because not all dreams come true in life,” he added.

Chen’s achievements were often overshadowed by the more charismatic Lin, but he was hugely successful in his own right, winning the world title in 2014 and 2015.

He also took bronze at the London 2012 Games, ensuring he retires with an Olympic medal of every colour.

The Frontier Post

Recent Posts

Naila Kiani becomes first Pakistani woman to summit world’s fifth-highest mountain

F.P. Report KHAPLU, GILGIT BALTISTAN: Dubai-based mountaineer Naila Kiani has become the first woman from…

1 min ago

$100,000 to be awarded to each player for wining T20 World Cup, offers Mohsin Naqvi

F.P. Report LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced to award of $100,000 to…

1 min ago

Pakistan to face India on Oct. 6 in women’s T20 World Cup clash

DHAKA (AFP): England will face South Africa in the opening match of the ICC Women’s…

1 min ago

Netanyahu says ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power

JERUSALEM (Reuters): Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end…

8 mins ago

Ishaq Dar expresses Pakistan’s support for Palestine’s admission as UN’s full member

F.P. Report BANJUL: Pakistan has expressed deep concern over Israel's ongoing brutal military onslaught against…

8 mins ago

North Korea’s UN ambassador says new sanctions monitoring groups will fail

SEOUL (Reuters): Efforts led by the US and other Western countries to form new groups…

8 mins ago

This website uses cookies.