From Australia to All England: Chen’s Journey of Reinvention
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei is gearing up for her long-awaited return to international competition, with her focus set firmly on next month’s YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2025 in…
· DIANNE PIERRE
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei is gearing up for her long-awaited return to international competition, with her focus set firmly on next month’s YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2025 in Birmingham where she looks to add to her existing collection after being crowned champion in 2019.
Before she takes to court in England, however, Chen will mark her comeback at the Asian Mixed Team Championships 2025 in Qingdao next week. Her return to competition follows a period of reflection and personal growth, during which she stepped back from the sport to explore new challenges, including learning English and dabbling in commentary.
Chen’s decision to take a break from badminton after her quarterfinal loss at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a bold one. Speaking to China Daily, she explained: “After the Olympics, I didn’t want to return to the field, because I felt that someone without ambition shouldn’t be there.” During her time away, she spent 10 weeks in Australia studying English — fulfilling a longstanding personal goal. Although she jokes that she didn’t manage to pick up any Australian slang, she hopes to master phrases like “fair dinkum” or “no worries” on her next visit.