Born on February 28, 1996, Shi Yuqi is a darling Chinese badminton player admired for his exceptional shot-making, mobility, and tactical awareness. Shi became well-known in 2016 after winning the French Open, and he soon turned into one of China’s best players.
Shi Yuqi’s Injury: A Setback for the Rising Star
Shi is a young but already legendary badminton player. He is currently rated as a favorite in the men’s singles and is a pet for punters who choose to bet on badminton. However, he has faced severe personal challenges lately.
The Injury That Changed His Game
When all appeared to be going well for this up-and-coming Chinese badminton star, he was hit by a bit of unforeseen bad luck when he played against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in the second round of the 2019 Indonesia Open and brutally tore his left ankle ligament. Shi appeared to be in a lot of pain as he rolled his left ankle and went to the ground right away. For him, it was a personal disaster. After that, he suffered two further injuries to his right ankle and elbow, which required major surgeries to fix the damage. This situation had a brutal effect on Shi’s mental state.
Reactions From Fans and the Badminton World
The badminton world was devastated by Yuqi’s injury; it came totally unexpected. Shi was the ultimate star and hope for Chinese badminton lovers, and his sudden withdrawal from the competition was a blow. At that time, no controversies were curling around the player yet, and he received loads of messages of support. As per controversies, you will find more about them in the sections below.
The Road to Recovery: Challenges and Determination
Shi admitted that his ankle never regained its normal condition and he had to deal with a whole bunch of physical challenges every day. His training could not be systematic at that point. However, he decided that he was strong enough to join the tournaments at the end of the year. It could have been a faux pax as you will see from the sections below.
Training for a Comeback: Building Strength and Skills
Shi Yuqi did not share much information about his recovery process online. Obviously, it was long, harsh, and painful. He had to struggle with mental challenges as well, since he was suffering from physical pain and could not train any more. In one of the interviews, he claimed that he even lost interest in the game.
Despite all the obstacles, Shi Yuqi chose to be present on court and go on with his training. It was slow and steady at first but became more intense as the player was healing.
The Return: Shi Yuqi’s Comeback
After the injury, Shi Yuqi did not play that much during 2019. He only took part in the Macau Open where he reached the finals but eventually lost. He still had a long way to go to fully recover from the trauma.
The beginning of 2020 was also quite hectic for the player. He took part in three tournaments in January but only went as far as the quarterfinals and semifinals. His final tournament in 2020 happened in March as all other competitions were canceled due to the pandemic.
Here Comes the Ban
The joy of being back in the game for Shi Yuqi was soured by a 10-month ban from international competitions imposed by the Chinese Badminton Association. This decision was made after Shi withdrew early from his Thomas Cup semifinals in 2020. He lost the first set against Momota Kento from Japan with a final score of 5-20. Then, he claimed he was quitting the game due to a case of paronychia. Honestly, it is a minor injury, and the decision seemed immature. Shi was badly criticized for this move by badminton netizens. He tried to explain himself, but it only made the situation worse. This episode reflected poorly on his reputation. The long ban also affected his stamina and mental health.
Losing Shi’s skill on the international scene hurts not just him but also China’s prominence in badminton. Shi contributes significantly to China’s reputation as a badminton superpower. China’s competitive capacity suffers dramatically if he is sidelined.
Lessons Learned: Shi Yuqi’s Experience of Injuries
Shi is now back in the game, literally. However, not everything looks optimistic for him. After losing in the quarterfinals during the Olympics 2024, he seems to have lost his mojo. Many fans noticed that he had changed since the Olympics. He seemed to only want to wrap up the Japan Open, regardless of whether he won or lost. Since he was a clear favorite for the Olympics finals, he probably got a ton of hate and criticism for not taking home a medal. Plus, it will be a challenge for him to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games. It’s disturbing to see that he is under a lot of pressure.
Latest Updates
The challenges are not yet over for Shi Yuqi. On November 1, he retired in the middle of a game during the Chinese National team championships and was later admitted to the hospital. During the game, Yuqi reportedly spiked a fever and had to be carried on a stretcher to the hospital.
Even with his legendary mental strength, Shi could not handle his fatigue during the match. He wasn’t even able to carry himself out of the court. He reportedly passed out during the game and was having trouble breathing. His fans and the whole badminton community are looking forward to updates on his recovery.
Conclusion
Injuries are common in such professional sports, including badminton. For players, health issues are crucial since sport is their whole life. Shi Yuqi has had quite a thorny path to success, and he is still struggling with the aftermath of his trauma, physically and mentally. We are looking forward to seeing him on the court, cheerful and healthy.