Source:
Sipa USA/SOPA Images
[Saba
Sports News] Japanese mixed doubles badminton star Watanabe Yuta, currently
competing in the Asian Badminton Championships, recently shared his thoughts on
social media about the tournament’s atmosphere. Watanabe expressed great admiration
for the event but also revealed that he has been unexpectedly intimidated by
the overwhelming enthusiasm of the fans. In a social media post, Watanabe
stated that he would no longer be signing autographs or taking pictures at the
hotel due to feeling scared when surrounded by a large number of people who
pull on his arm. He expressed concerns about potential injuries and emphasized
the need to maintain an appropriate distance while still enjoying interactions
with fans. It is well-known that Chinese badminton fans are highly passionate
about the sport, and foreign players often receive significant attention during
major competitions. Last year, Japanese player Chiharu Shida experienced a warm
welcome from enthusiastic fans at the hotel during the China Badminton Open.
Watanabe Yuta, 26, and his partner Arisa Higashino form Japan’s top mixed
doubles team, currently ranked No. 2 in the world. They made history as the
first Japanese mixed doubles team to win the All England Badminton Open
championship.