“Tai Ju-ying, I didn’t eat breakfast or lunch to watch you play,” a fan yelled in September as one of the player’s conjurers made his final exit at his home Taiwan Open. Tzu-ying smiled mid-match, but didn’t answer, because badminton is so embarrassing.
So she waited for the end of the game that she had heard before in the various galleries that voice of the invisible admirer that never lights up, and was grateful for the unfailing, indiscreet support even when her career had broken from the center. . Injuries were making her around the magic, and she wanted to chill now, travel to every corner of Taiwan and have three children. She entered her home Super Series with a shaky leg so fans could watch her play for the last time. And there are many connoisseurs in the sport who add to the chorus of applause but don’t follow up with selfies for Instagram. Tzu-ying’s reverse drops, imprinted in memory, were enough.
So in its own quiet way, badminton is saying goodbye to many of the big names that have played key roles over the past decade, and will not be appearing when the jamboree gathers in Malaysia next year. Of course, the Olympics clearly circumscribes such decisions. But the signs of a huge void looming over the game were most visible at the World Tour Finals. Tzu-ying was absent from the women’s singles, and although she has not announced her retirement, Carolina Marin, Nozomi Okuhara, Intanon Ratchanok, PV Sindhu and Chen Yufei were also all absent.
Akane Yamaguchi’s shadow stayed strong enough to pull off two big games, including defeating Ann Se-young, who stun China with her mandarins. But Yamaguchi didn’t make it to the semifinals, and Aya Ohori, who had been playing like a dream, left viewers wondering why she was retiring after reaching a career-high ranking.
What this group of women was able to do was make badminton fascinating, to support fans in the retirement of OG superstars Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei. This time the signs are staggered, and the dots are different. Spain officially relinquished the hosting rights to the Super 300 event in 2025, and the Marin era may well be over. The meditative charm of He Bingjiao, the smiling southpaw, will also be sorely missed.
Viktor Axelsen would continue to thrash the title and lambast the authorities after winning – but with no closure to the name Vamos, it belonged to Kento Momota in 2024. It’s strange that Lakshya Sen in men’s singles, Kunlavut had gen-next Fab-4 material ready. Vitidsarn, Li Shifeng and Kodai Naraoka, but neither Li Ji Jia nor Anders Antonsen have settled into the Rivalry format or settled into the more attractive classics. But Kidambi Srikanth’s gradual fading from the big circuit has been keenly felt.
However the biggest disappointment will be reserved for Mohamed Ahsan and Indonesian daddies Hendra Setiawan. It seemed as if they would never lose their skills – Ahsan setting things up coolly in the front court, and Setiawan finishing from the back. But it’s not just their cool demeanor, the greatness of their skills and the sheer humility with which they carry themselves that makes this a favorite pair.
With both them and Tai Ju-ying and Nozomi Okuhara, you’d wonder if their games were born on a pedestal and came from the absolute assurance that they had nothing to prove, so almost spiritually submerged were they. Separate from styles, and results. Win or lose, their every point was met with rapturous applause, for the skill was thrilling, matchless, victory accidental. No unnecessary fist pumping, shouting, sportsmanship – pure talent and commitment to hard work. They won and lost Olympic titles, but watching the games gave them the most satisfaction.
Perhaps the most surprising retirement in badminton will come from Chinese mixed doubles Olympic champion Zheng Xiwei at the age of just 27. The top-ranked athlete in the world with an Olympic gold, three world titles and two Asiad golds, it was clear that he wanted to win his life. Being defined by more than the tag of “Olympic champion,” added that winning multiple titles became less appealing. him now.
He wrote on social media, ‘I have officially decided to leave the international stage! I can imagine that my fans may find this news sudden and somewhat (unnecessary). I know what I love, what I’m good at, where my goals are, and the life I want to lead. In terms of my career, I’ve never been overly involved in it. “
Xiwei joined the Chinese national set-up in 2013 as a 16-year-old. He met his current wife at the age of 15, but his dedication to sports, travel and competition took up all of his time. “If I continue to compete on the court, I will inevitably spend a lot of time away from my loved ones. My wife and I have been together for 12 years, but our real life begins only after this Olympic cycle,” he added.
Zheng Siwei has always been a pioneer of sorts – the first Chinese to communicate with the global media in English, the first to go beyond clichés and offer raw insight into the games and minds of Chinese champions. His partnership with Huang Yaqiong rarely faltered, as they hit long winning streaks, and were an absolute live wire on court leading up to the Olympics. They were unique for their openness and how lightly they wore their greatness.
The game will never stop and will throw up new stars in 2025, but the familiarity of deep rivalries, storied quirks and high quality of guaranteed creative badminton may have snapped at several points with the retirement of 2024, always with respect.
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