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Agence France-Presse

Two badminton veterans enjoyed 16 minutes of fame at the Japan Open on Wednesday when they appeared in the main draw of a high-level tournament after a lifetime of trying.
Fifty-year-old Chun Kar-lung, who was born in Hong Kong, and his 40-year-old partner Karen Feng Yun Qiao were drafted in to compete in the mixed doubles in Tokyo after a slew of withdrawals.
The pair, who represent England, had never competed together and have spent their careers slogging it out in badminton’s lower-level tournaments.
Chun has twice tried to qualify for the Hong Kong Open, in 2019 and 2024, but failed to get into the main draw each time.
He has won only five matches in his international career, while Feng’s sole victory came in a walkover.
They were no match for their opponents at the Japan Open, losing 21-2, 21-6 to Denmark’s European champions Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje in just over a quarter of an hour.


Chun said it was “an amazing experience” to play in a Super 750 tournament – the second-highest level on badminton’s world tour.
“We couldn’t sleep well when we learned we could make the main draw,” said the bespectacled Chun, who lives in Liverpool.
“This is such a big tournament. We feel so happy.”
Both Chun and Feng devote themselves full time to badminton and do not have other jobs.
But their lives are very different from the sport’s top stars such as South Korea’s women’s number one An Se-young.
Feng said she and Chun did not expect to win any games in Tokyo and that she entered the competition “to challenge myself”.
“It was a dream to try this kind of level,” she said.
Chun said he plans which tournaments to enter each year when the calendar comes out at the start of a season.
Even though success has proved difficult to come by, he said staying motivated was not a problem.
“You have to always talk to yourself – ‘you can make it, you can make it’,” he said.
“If you don’t give up, anything can happen. Now we’ve proved that.”


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Badminton World Federation (BWF)

Journeymen Chun Kar-lung and Karen Feng lasted only 16 minutes against Danish European champions Mathias Christiansen (left) and Alexandra Boje at the Japan Open. Photo: AP

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Stephen Higgins joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2017 as the head of race-day operations, tracks and racing facilities. Photo: Sun Yeung

Stephen Higgins in the jockeys’ changing room at Sha Tin Racecourse. Photo: Sun Yeung

Stephen Higgins and his team face a relentless agronomic challenge managing the turf. Photo: Sun Yeung

The team inside the changing room have to equip the jockeys with equipment and silks within a set time. Photo: Sun Yeung

Facilities such as the gym provide top-tier support for elite jockeys. Photo: Sun Yeung

HKJC

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China lost three of their four matches at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong, and have now fallen one spot in the world rankings. Photo: Xinhua

Zhuang Yushan (top) did not mince words when describing China’s performances. Photo: Xinhua

Wang Yuanyuan (top) was singled out by Chinese media for her ineffectiveness. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Other Sport

Chun Kar-lung and fellow veteran Karen Feng ‘couldn’t sleep well’ when they learned they finally had a spot in the main draw of a major event


Chun Kar-lung and fellow veteran Karen Feng ‘couldn’t sleep well’ when they learned they finally had a spot in the main draw of a major event.


Hong Kong-born badminton underdog enjoys ‘amazing’ 16 minutes of fame in Japan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chun Kar-lung and fellow veteran Karen Feng ‘couldn’t sleep well’ when they learned they finally had a spot in the main draw of a major event

Chun Kar-lung and fellow veteran Karen Feng ‘couldn’t sleep well’ when they learned they finally had a spot in the main draw of a major event