As the men's and women's singles in badminton progress to the semi-finals at the 2018 Asian Games, for the first time in over a decade no Chinese player will compete for medals in the two events.
Team China have sent four players-Shi Yuqi, Chen Long. Chen Yufei and He Bingjiao-for badminton singles of the Asian Games. Shi was knocked out by Indonesian player Jonatan Christie in the first round. Creating the biggest sleeper of the event. Then He Bingjiao lost to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the round of 16.
China's Chen Long loses to Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the quarter-finals in men's singles of badminton on Sunday. /VCG Photo
In the quarter-finals on Sunday, Chen Long and Chen Yufei were eliminated respectively by Anthony Sinisuka Ginting from Indonesia and Akane Yamaguchi from Japan, announcing total failure of Team China in badminton singles.
How rare is the situation? In men's singles, Chinese players played at least in the semi-finals in the past four Asian Games. As women's singles, Team China has never missed semi-finals since the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran.
China's Chen Yufei loses to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarter-finals in women's singles of badminton on Sunday. /VCG Photo
Losing the games surely does not mean everything should be denied and questioned. Even China's Lin Dan who used to sweep over men's singles badminton world experienced loss in the first round. However, what really worries Team China is the attitude towards the loss of certain players.
"Before the Asian Games, I set a goal for myself 'do your best and leave no regrets'. I believe I made it. My rival played better than I did at his home where fans support him in a crazy way. My loss is nothing strange," said Chen Long after being defeated by Ginting.
As the No.1 player and the absolute key figure of Team China in badminton, Chen seemed to be totally Okay with his failure to enter the semi-finals, which, let's try again, has not happened in 16 years. If a team's best player sounds like this, what do you expect from other players?
China's Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen lost to Indonesia's Kenas Adi Haryanto/Fajar Alfian in the semi-finals in men’s doubles of badminton on Monday. /VCG Photo
Team Japan's strong rise has already sent a wake-up call to China as they no longer dominate in badminton like in previous years.
Team China's Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen were eliminated after losing 1-2 to Indonesia's Kenas Adi Haryanto and Fajar Alfian in the semi-finals in men's doubles of badminton on Monday.
Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan and Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong will compete for gold respectively in the finals of women's doubles and mixed doubles of badminton for the country on the same day.
(Top picture: Team China's Chen Yufei in the left and Chen Long in the right /VCG Photo)