Source: REUTERS/Ann Wang
[Saba Sports News] The mixed doubles badminton competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics has entered the knockout stage. Chinese pair Huang Dongping and Feng Yanzhe were defeated by their teammates Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, failing to advance to the semifinals. During the post-match interview, Feng Yanzhe said “I’m sorry” to Huang Dongping and then covered his face and cried. Huang Dongping immediately comforted him, saying, “It’s not a big deal, I’m not retiring.” It is reported that Huang Dongping changed partners after winning the mixed doubles championship at the Tokyo Olympics and teamed up with Feng Yanzhe. In this Olympics, they competed as the second seeds. Unfortunately, they lost to a Malaysian pair in the group stage, and Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping could only advance as the second-place finishers, losing the advantage of being the second seeds. In the knockout stage, they were drawn to face the top-seeded pair Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong. Huang Dongping expressed that partnering with Feng Yanzhe was the bravest decision she made during this Olympic cycle. They have put in a lot of effort for each other to come this far, and there are no regrets. Some fans commented that for the 29-year-old Huang Dongping, this might be her last Olympic Games, but she managed to overcome her disappointment and comfort her teammate, displaying the demeanor of a seasoned player.