According to Badminton Magazine, Chen Qiqiu, coach of the Chinese badminton team, revealed that Liu Yuchen, Ou Xuanyi, and Tan Qiang have submitted retirement applications and withdrawn from international competitions. Liang Weikang/Wang Chang have pulled out of this week’s Japan Open but will return at next month’s China Open.
Said Chen Qiqiu, when I pick up my pen again, the Paris Olympics have already concluded. Looking back, it feels like a grand dream, and I am reluctant to wake up from it at this moment.
Reflecting on their performance, Chen Qiqiu noted that Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi’s journey at the Olympic stage was filled with twists and turns. Due to the unexpected entry of the French team, an additional pair appeared in their group, meaning they had to play one more match. Group D also included three formidable opponents: Denmark’s Astrup/Rasmussen, Japan’s Kobayashi/Hoki, and Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin. This significantly increased the difficulty for Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi, who were not outstanding in terms of strength, to advance. They failed to fully unleash their potential against the Danish pair, losing both sets decisively, which made subsequent matches even more challenging. However, they displayed great fighting spirit in the following two group matches, defeating the Japanese pair in two sets and narrowly losing to the Chinese Taipei pair after three sets, ultimately ranking third in the group and failing to reach the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
Looking ahead, Chen Qiqiu stated that the men’s doubles team will undergo adjustments post-Olympics. Liu Yuchen, Ou Xuanyi, and Tan Qiang have formally submitted their retirement notices, bidding farewell to international competitions as they embark on new journeys. Here’s wishing these three veterans, who have made significant contributions to the Chinese badminton team, all the best for their future endeavors! May everything go smoothly for them! And may they often come back to visit the men’s doubles team.