bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Sport

Badminton Olympic champion Huang Yaqiong quit the Chinese national team on Wednesday, saying age and injuries had finally caught up with her.
Huang won mixed doubles gold with partner Zheng Siwei at the Paris Olympics last summer, finishing the tournament unbeaten and without dropping a set. The pair had won silver together three years earlier in Tokyo.
The 30-year-old also left the French capital with a ring on her finger, with boyfriend Liu Yuchen proposing moments after her title triumph in one of the fortnight’s sweeter moments.
Huang said she had already decided before the Games that it would be her last Olympics, and in a social media post revealed she did not believe she still had what it took to compete at the highest level.

“I’ve been greeted with countless encouragements from everyone, hoping that I could continue my career,” Huang wrote. “But actually, since the run-up for the Paris Olympics, I’ve already regarded the Paris Olympics as my last one.
“Although based on my current form, I still possess the physical ability to compete, the accumulated injuries over the years combined with my increasing age have made me lack confidence to continue shouldering the mission of winning glory for the country and maintaining my form as an elite athlete.”
Zheng announced in November that he would retire from international competition. In their last competitive outing, the pair won the mixed doubles for the third consecutive time at the year-end World Tour Finals just last month.
Huang paid tribute to Zheng, and thanked him for “fighting with me on court for the last seven years”, and said she would not have been able to succeed without all those who supported her during her career.
But while Huang said she was leaving the national team, she vowed to remain involved in badminton and would contribute to the sport in other ways.
“Badminton is my lifelong pursuit, and I’m willing to give it my all,” she added.


Olympic badminton champ Huang quits Chinese national team, says age, injuries taken toll

Chinese Taipei men’s badminton doubles pair under fire for pro-independence support

China badminton fans hammer world No 2 Antonsen after Dane’s controversial win over Li

Chinese Olympic gold medallist Zheng Siwei retires at 27, says titles ‘hold little appeal’

Badminton World Federation (BWF)

Huang Yaqiong (left) and Zheng Siwei on their way to winning mixed doubles gold at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Xinhua

Liu Yuchen (right) proposes to an emotional Huang Yaqiong in Paris. Photo: Xinhua

US get better of China in Perth, Arsenal start 2025 with a bang, Rashford hits back

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring his side’s third against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Photo: AP

China’s Zhang Zhizhen serves during his men’s singles match against Taylor Fritz. Photo: Xinhua

Arthur Fils survives ‘rough’ Hong Kong Open conditions to set up all-French quarter-final

Arthur Fils slides to reach a backhand in his Bank of China Hong Kong Open victory over Zizou Bergs. Photo: Getty Images

Cameron Norrie powers a backhand down the line during his three-set win over Lorenzo Sonego. Photo: Getty Images

Kei Nishikori beat third seed Karen Khachanov to reach the quarter-finals. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sport

China

Huang Yaqiong won mixed doubles title with partner Zheng Siwei in Paris last summer, but does not believe she can still compete at top level


Huang Yaqiong won mixed doubles title with partner Zheng Siwei in Paris last summer, but does not believe she can still compete at top level.
