Huang Yaqiong Retires from Chinese Badminton Team

Badminton Olympic champion Huang Yaqiong has officially retired from the Chinese national team, citing age and accumulated injuries as key factors in her decision. Despite winning the mixed doubles gold at the Paris Olympics and finishing the tournament unbeaten, Huang stated she had already viewed the Paris Games as her last competition. In a heartfelt social media post, she expressed gratitude for the support she received but indicated a lack of confidence in maintaining elite-level performance. Her partner, Zheng Siwei, also announced his retirement from international competition last November. Huang emphasized that her passion for badminton remains strong, and she intends to contribute to the sport in new ways. The duo's impressive record includes winning three consecutive titles at the Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals before their retirements.