WASHINGTON client Beijing August 23 electrical
problem :( things asked Chinese athletes) Chen Yufei: charm on the field, she was born with
Reporter Wang Yu Xing Chong
On the field, she is the first sister of Guoyu who is composed and calm;
Outside the arena, she is a cool girl with Buddhism and humor.
23-year-old Chen Yufei, step by step up the ladder to the championship in the Tokyo Olympics, crowned the highest glory of badminton women's singles.
Standing on the highest Olympic podium, she said: "The Chinese women's singles did it, I did it!"
In the Tokyo Olympic cycle, the era of "Two Kings and One Li" in the women's singles of the national feathers ushered in the final chapter.
Chen Yufei was quickly pushed to the front of the stage, shouldering the important task of rejuvenating the national feather women's singles.
In front of her, she faced the fierce competition among the world's women's badminton players for hegemony; behind her, she was the shining achievements of the Guoyu women's singles.
The racket has become her weapon in the siege pool; the brain is the engine for her strategizing in the arena.
The patient hunter only waited for his opponent to show his feet, and then delivered a fatal blow.
She was born with the charming charm on the field.
Losses, setbacks, struggles and sweat have witnessed Chen Yufei's transformation along the way, and finally turned into a butterfly in Tokyo.
In the dialogue with Sino-Singapore Sports, Chen Yufei shared her mental journey to win the Olympic champion, as well as the goal and direction of her future struggle.
In the Tokyo Olympics badminton women's singles final, Chen Yufei defeated Chinese Taipei player Dai Ziying to win the gold medal.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Winning the championship is dreamlike and the details still need to be improved
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Tokyo Olympics is your first time to participate in the Olympics. You also won the Olympic badminton women's singles championship for the first time in 9 years for China. What is the difference between participating in the Olympic Games and participating in other competitions?
Chen Yufei: I feel okay, there is not much difference.
There will be a little nervousness, but I think it's normal, and there will be (a little nervousness) in normal matches.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Now go back to the entire Tokyo Olympics experience, how would you describe it?
Chen Yufei: It's incredible. It feels like a dream and it ends. Winning the championship feels like a dream.
Sino-Singapore Sports: After winning the championship, you said, "Chinese women's singles did it, and I did it." Before the game, what goals did you set for yourself?
Chen Yufei: The goal is definitely to win the gold medal, but I didn't put so much pressure on myself. I must go to get this gold medal.
Take (winning the championship) as a goal and work hard towards it without regrets.
Zhongxin Sports: How many points did you give your Tokyo trip?
Chen Yufei: 85 points, winning the championship is worthy of recognition, but some problems have been exposed on the court.
Later I watched the video summary, (feeling) there is still room for improvement, and there are some small details that can be done better.
Chen Yufei is in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Sino-Singapore Sports: Judging from the record of your fight against Dai Ziying, there are actually more wins than losses. You also said before that facing Dai Ziying will be pressured. What was in your mind at the moment when you knew you were going to face her in the finals?
Chen Yufei: I didn't think too much at the time, no matter who I met, be yourself and go all out.
Because we have played many times and we know each other better, we will pay special attention to her characteristics, and try not to put a burden on her due to excessive pressure and cause ourselves to play abnormally.
China-Singapore Sports: Regarding this high-level women's singles matchup in the world, there were comments after the game that you used textbook-level tactics, constantly playing lobs, fighting for physical fitness and stability at critical moments, and finally winning in this tug-of-war. Under the gold medal. Is there such a tactical deployment with the coaching team before the finals?
Chen Yufei: It can't be said to be a textbook, because each of us has our own style of play, so the tactics are different. It will be more uncomfortable to play offensively with my (pull) tactics.
For me, I just need to do my best and try not to make mistakes.
Although people say that I have good tactics, I have been playing more shots and defending, but I feel that I also need to have offense. These are the areas for me to improve in the future.
Sino-Singapore Sports: China's badminton women's singles has also experienced a trough in the past period of time. From the trough to the peak, what are your gains along the way?
Chen Yufei: It is not easy to walk this way, because the women's singles has always had a lot of opponents, and there is no guarantee that you can win on the court.
This will lead us to work harder in training, have a more positive state, and have clear goals (to struggle).
Sino-Singapore Sports: How do you feel when you hear China's national anthem playing at the Olympics?
Chen Yufei: I am very proud. There will be no such glorious moments elsewhere.
When the national anthem was raised at the Olympic Games, I felt that the national flag was raised because of me. When the national anthem was played, I felt very honored and proud.
Chen Yufei celebrated winning the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Keep the impact mentality, aim at the Grand Slam
Sino-Singapore Sports: During the Tokyo Olympics cycle, the former "two kings and one Lee" of the national feather women's singles faded out of the arena, and a group of players headed by you were quickly pushed to the front of the stage to take on the heavy responsibilities. How did you feel at that time? Have you ever been lost?
Chen Yufei: I won't be confused, but suddenly being pushed to this position will bring some pressure.
But I think now that I have reached this position, I will try my best to do it well.
Although we would lose at the beginning, the results were not good.
You will definitely be unhappy when you are bad, but you must quickly forget (past results) and don't pay too much attention to it.
Keep your feet on the ground and improve yourself through training, step by step.
Zhongxin Sports: You have also encountered setbacks in your career. For example, you lost in the semi-finals of the U Cup in 2018. Before you said that this was a low point in your career. Looking back now, what did this frustration experience bring to me?
Chen Yufei: Because it was a team match, I lost the game as a (women), which led to the final team losing in the semifinals.
I was really uncomfortable at the time, so this defeat made me grow a lot.
This defeat made me (become) more eager to win, (firmly) determined to win glory for the country, (want to) prove myself and prove Chinese women's singles.
Chen Yufei is in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Sino-Singapore Sports: From the Uber Cup defeat in 2018, to the brilliant results in the 2019 Tour, to the Sudirman Cup winning the team and crowning the world champion for the first time, where do you feel the turning point in your career? What changes have been made in the middle?
Chen Yufei: I don't think there is a turning point. (My game state is) slowly getting better.
The 2019 All England Championship and the Sudirman Cup played relatively well. Because of these two games, my overall confidence has improved, so the next half of the year is even more different on the court, and the results are getting better and better.
The main reason is the improvement of confidence, coupled with the accumulation of usual training, and the enhancement of my own ability, which helped me (improvement of performance) greatly.
Sino-Singapore Sports: After the Tokyo Olympics, holding the Olympic women's singles champion, I want to discuss with you how to see the change in my identity. First of all, in the face of Guoyu's incomparably brilliant women's singles heritage, as a sister, how do you view the responsibilities on your shoulders?
Chen Yufei: After achieving this result, everyone will have higher expectations of me and will pay more attention to me, but I hope I will not be affected by these, and I will still be myself.
After the competition and training, I still put aside my achievements and identity, and treat it with my heart.
The (Olympic champion) will bring me more attention, but it will also bring some pressure. I feel that I must put my mentality right and don't think that I am amazing. In fact, everyone is the same.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Secondly, stand on the highest Olympic podium and realize the athletes' highest pursuits and dreams. Are you ready to change from a former young teenager and a shocker with the highest honor of women's singles to the women's singles throne in the Paris Olympic cycle? The defender of?
Chen Yufei: I don't think I have such a strong ability to defend. I still have to be an attacker to attack foreign players and champions in various competitions. I think I must always maintain an attack mentality.
Chen Yufei is in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Sino-Singapore Sports: What are your plans and expectations for your own badminton road in the future? What improvements do you hope for technically?
Chen Yufei: Actually, I need to improve the details in various aspects, such as strength, offense, and counterattack. I want to enrich more offensive lines and make my tactics more reasonable.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Now that it has won the Olympic champion, how do you set your next goal?
Chen Yufei: The Olympics is the highest sporting event in everyone's opinion, but there are actually many champions such as the Uber Cup, World Championships, and Asian Games, which I have never won.
Therefore, we still have to try our best to hit the champions of various competitions. The Uber Cup and Sudirman Cup will be held soon. I hope that I will adjust my mentality as soon as possible and play well in the game.
China-Singapore Sports: So I have set my goal at the Grand Slam, can you understand it this way?
Chen Yufei: (Grand Slam) can be said to be a big goal, but the small goal is to win every competition.
Chen Yufei knelt to celebrate the championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
The Buddhist girl still has a little humor
Sino-Singapore Sports: Choosing to engage in a sport is not difficult, but the hard part is persistence. How did you persevere? What supports you not to give up in the face of pain and setbacks?
Chen Yufei: I think I think more openly, and I see more openly, so even if I encounter big problems and setbacks, I still don't get frustrated. I'm more optimistic, so I've walked naturally until now.
Sino-Singapore Sports: In an interview with us, Director Zhang Ning predicted that you will win the women's singles championship in the Tokyo Olympics, and the prediction will come true in the end. But she commented that you were more Buddhist at the beginning of your career. Do you think you have changed now?
Chen Yufei: I am still more Buddhist in my daily life, so I don't care about many things.
In the past, I might also compare Buddhism in training, but now I will be more demanding of myself in training.
Sino-Singapore Sports: You mentioned before that Lin Dan has always been your idol. After winning the Olympic Games, have you communicated with him or received a message of congratulations from him?
Chen Yufei: There is no specific exchange, but I saw him on the Internet complimenting us that we played better in this game.
I think Dan is my role model. His usual training attitude and achievements are what I need to learn from.
Chen Yufei and the coach embraced and celebrated.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Du Yang
Sino-Singapore Sports: Throughout the interview, I feel that you have been very humble. As an Olympic champion, why are you still so humble? In fact, you can be a little proud.
Chen Yufei: In 2019, I had relatively good results at the time. There was a time when my thoughts were swollen, which caused my mentality to change. I think this is a warning to myself.
After adjustments, it is not humble to win the championship at this Olympics, (because) I don’t think I can be contented so quickly, but I have to have a new goal, a way forward, and I really haven’t reached such a high level. .
Sino-Singapore Sports: How would you describe your character?
Chen Yufei: My private life is quite different from on the court. I am a more humorous and casual person.
Charm, innately possessed
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Chinese badminton team has been conducting intensive physical training during the Tokyo Olympic cycle. Can you tell us what aspects of the athletes' physical training are mainly improved? Some netizens have also asked whether the 3000-meter run is easy?
Chen Yufei: It's not easy to run 3 kilometers (laughs). It may be easy to run slowly, but it has a time limit, and it will be more tiring if there is a speed requirement.
Because badminton is a relatively comprehensive project, there are many physical trainings.
For example, running has short and long distances, as well as skipping rope and special training in badminton courts, such as pace training.
Data map: Chen Yufei in the Asian Games in Jakarta.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Dongming
Zhongxin Sports: How does it feel to live in isolation now? Are you still used to it?
Chen Yufei: It's pretty good, I'm quite comfortable.
I can do physical fitness and strength training in my room, play games and watch TV shows to pass the time. It's really boring.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Some netizens asked, I heard that you love to burn your head as soon as you play, will you still burn your head in the next games?
Chen Yufei: I burned my head this time. I just tried it before. I didn't expect that the results would be good after being burnt.
Let's go with the flow in the future. Whenever you want to hot (just hot), I am a more casual person.
China-Singapore Sports: Your "God Prejudgment" in previous matches was also very popular on the Internet, and was asked many times by the media. You said it was luck + subconscious reaction, then how did this kind of luck and subconscious reaction develop? Of?
Chen Yufei: After playing for so many years, I have a certain judgment about the ball.
Subconscious reaction plus a little bit of luck will have the ball.
Data map: Chen Yufei in the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Ming
Sino-Singapore Sports: Can you teach me the skills to fascinate people on the court?
Chen Yufei: Naturally, there is no way (laughs).
Zhongxin Sports: What souvenirs did you buy?
Chen Yufei: What I buy are all weird things, the normal ones are badges, keychains, and masks.
I also bought playing cards, bath balls, and nail clippers.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Some netizens want to know about your participation in the National Games. Will there be a chance to go home after isolation?
Chen Yufei: Because the National Games will have epidemic prevention regulations, we will be closed when we return to the local team immediately after the quarantine, so we have no chance to go home.
At the National Games, I will participate in women's singles and team competitions, hoping that I can have a good performance.
(End)