Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] Men’s singles player Zhou Xinyu, representing the Zhejiang team, has garnered immense attention from fans and the media for his stellar performance at the “Lin Dan Cup” Shenzhen Open. With a record-high total prize money of US$58,000, this event attracted numerous overseas players, including Malaysia’s former national player Cheam June Wei, South Korea’s former national player Son Wan Ho, and Lee Dong-keun. Initially, Zhou Xinyu, who was relatively unknown, faced skepticism, but he emerged victorious by defeating three Korean stars: Lee Dong-keun, Heo Kwang Hee, and Son Wan-ho, unexpectedly securing the third place in the tournament. The media flocked to report on this 22-year-old prodigy. It is reported that Zhou Xinyu trained rigorously during the last winter season, focusing particularly on physical fitness, which was evident in his performance during the competition. During this winter training, Chen Yufei, the No.1 of the Chinese badminton women’s singles team and a fellow member of the Zhejiang team, served as Zhou Xinyu’s training partner. This collaboration helped enhance Zhou Xinyu’s skills and strength. In the editor’s opinion, Zhou Xinyu’s consecutive victories against two Korean world champions demonstrate that he is no flash, and his future is indeed promising.