Rising doubles star Chen Qingchen ready to lift China out of badminton doldrums
The 19-year-old has given herself two years to reach the top in women’s and mixed doubles, while also aiming for Olympic and Uber Cup glory
Give her two years and rising Chinese women’s doubles specialist Chen Qingchen may be as good as the great mainlanders who once dominated the world of badminton.
Despite her age, the 19-year-old from Guangdong province has been hailed as the new star of world powerhouses China, having captured four superseries titles this year prior to the final stop on the calendar in Hong Kong, where she is still in contention for more silverware.
“I am improving but still lack the exposure of the previous generation of players at the highest level,” said the youngster. “I would love to achieve the same degree of success as them but still need a bit of time.
“Give me two years and then I should be there – the world championship in both the mixed doubles and women’s doubles are my targets and also the team events of Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup.”
Chen won the Australia Open in June with her partner Bao Yixin in the doubles and triumphed again at last month’s French Open, combining with another partner Jia Yifan and defeating Olympic champions and the world’s number one pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, of Japan, on the way.
In the mixed doubles, Chen partnered Zheng Siwei to win the Japan Open and French Open. On both occasions, they relegated world number one pair Ko Sung-Hyun and Kim Ha-na, of South Korea, into second place.
