Chinese Olympic gold medallist Zheng Siwei retires at 27, says titles ‘hold little appeal’
Zheng Siwei won mixed doubles badminton title in Paris this summer and says fans expected him to continue to LA Games in 2028 and beyond
Chinese badminton star Zheng Siwei has announced his retirement at the age of 27, saying he does not want to be only defined as an “Olympic champion” and “achieving more titles holds little appeal to me”.
Zheng won gold in mixed doubles at the Paris Olympics, three years after picking up silver at the Tokyo Games. He was one of the 65 Chinese Olympians who visited Hong Kong in August to share their experiences with residents.
The three-time world champion, who plays with Huang Yaqiong, will grace the court for the last time at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou next month, the city where his glittering career began.
“I’ve officially decided to step out of the international stage! I can imagine my fans might find this news both sudden and somewhat [un]reasonable,” Zheng said in a lengthy social media post.
“Many expected me to continue playing at least until Los Angeles or even longer. We just won the Olympic gold medal and are still among the top ranks globally. So, why stop now?
“The answer is simple: this is always part of my plan. Regardless of whether I achieved my dream at the Paris Olympics.
