In the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Chinese badminton team is expected to be the top contenders based on their exceptional performance in the recent World Tour Finals held in Hangzhou.
Out of the 10 representatives in the finals, an impressive five were from China, demonstrating their dominance in the sport.
The only category that did not feature a Chinese player in the title match was the women’s singles, where Spain’s Carolina Marin pulled off a stunning victory against reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei in the semi-finals.
Despite this setback, Yufei closed the year with four World Tour titles and is determined to defend her title in Paris after securing wins in the Indonesian, Denmark, and French Opens, as well as the China Masters.
Following their victory in the Finals, mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong are poised to be strong contenders in Paris, especially after clinching six World Tour titles this year along with a win at the Asian Games in October.
Despite their loss in the finals, Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping have also had a successful year with seven World Tour titles, making them formidable challengers to their teammates in the upcoming Olympics.
The women’s doubles champions Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan, having already secured a silver in the Tokyo Games, are looking to improve their performance in Paris after finishing their campaign in Hangzhou undefeated.
Men’s doubles pair Liang Weilkeng-Wang Chang, who were denied the title in the World Tour Finals, ended the year as the No. 1 pair and are expected to be a major threat in the upcoming Olympics.
In the men’s singles, 2018 champion Shi Yuqi, who fell ill during the competition, managed to showcase his prowess by making it through a tough group and defeating top players to prove his capability.
With their strong lineup and consistent performance, China is likely to maintain their position as the world’s best in badminton.
