Chen Yufei of China in action during the China National Badminton Team Olympics simulated game against He Bingjiao in Chengdu, China, June 27, 2021. /CFP
Team China will send 14 badminton players to compete in five events at the Tokyo Olympics, including reigning champion in the men's singles, Chen Long.
The roster is as follows.
Men's singles: Chen Long, Shi Yuqi
Women's singles: Chen Yufei, He Bingjiao
Men's doubles: Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen
Women's doubles: Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan, Du Yue/Li Yinhui
Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping
The most promising seed for a gold medal falls in the mixed doubles category, as the duos rank first and second in the Olympics points tally at the end of the qualification process.
Finishing first in the 2020 Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking are Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, chasing their first gold medal at the Olympics.
The mixed doubles will witness the first gold medal for badminton in all categories. Should either Chinese duo clinch the top spot on the podium, it would be a huge boost for their compatriots in the following matches.
Huang Yaqiong (L) and Zheng Siwei of China in action during the China National Badminton Team Olympics simulated game in Chengdu, China, June 27, 2021. /CFP
Also aiming for a personal first Olympic gold medal is Chen Yufei in the women's singles, who is widely considered a gold medal favorite in Tokyo. Top-seeded Chen and compatriot He Bingjiao are in the same half in the preliminary round.
Chen Long is the only reigning Olympic badminton champion in the 14-player squad embarking on his third Olympic trip. He is not in the same half draw as Japan's Kento Momota, who currently holds the top spot in the men's singles world rankings or Denmark's Viktor Axelson. However, Chen's compatriot Shi Yuqi is.
After the preliminary round, Chen could face Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the first knockout match. Lee defeated Chen at the All England Open Badminton Championships in 2020 and is considered a dark horse.