Olympic champion Wang Yi Lyu and BWF World Championships 2019 bronze medallist Du Yue of China have joined some of their illustrious peers in retiring from international badminton. Wang was Olympic champion in mixed doubles at Tokyo 2020, while Du was one of the top doubles and mixed doubles players of her time.
Du was accomplished in two disciplines.
Among other Chinese greats to announce their retirements recently were Olympic champions Chen Long and Zhang Nan, and world champions Liu Cheng and Li Jun Hui, who bowed out of international badminton at a ceremony during the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023 in Suzhou. Each of these players played their part, in varying degrees, in China’s glittering achievements in team and individual events over the last decade.
The highlight of Wang’s career happened in August 2021, when he and Huang Dong Ping stunned compatriots and title favourites Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong in a great final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Chinese greats who retired at the Sudirman Cup: Liu Cheng, Chen Long, Zhang Nan and Li Jun Hui, with CBA President Zhang Jun.
Du had stints with several partners including Wang, but she was most successful with Li Yin Hui in women’s doubles, achieving a career high of No.5, and He Ji Ting in mixed doubles (world No.11). Du featured in several finals; her achievements included victories at Korea Open 2018, Macau Open 2019 and German Open 2019, besides bronze at World Championships 2019 and silver at Asian Championships 2019.
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