Chou Tien-chen continues to excel at badminton world championships
Chou Tien-chen’s Remarkable Longevity and Resilience
Chou Tien-chen, the 36-year-old shuttler from Chinese Taipei, continues to demonstrate exceptional longevity and resilience in the sport of badminton. He recently secured a medal at the World Championships in India, making him the oldest player to achieve this feat at the prestigious event. This achievement follows his earlier success as the oldest player to win a Super 1000 title, the China Open.
Chou’s career spans nearly two decades at the highest level, where he remains a significant force. His sustained performance is particularly notable given his personal health journey, which included a diagnosis of early-stage colorectal cancer in 2023. Following surgery, it took approximately eight months for him to regain his form and return to elite competition.
His manager, Victoria Kao, describes Chou’s ability to continue competing and winning as a “miracle.” Kao, who also serves as his physiotherapist and physical trainer, emphasizes her role as a motivator, offering constant support and encouragement. She often tells him to relax and enjoy the game, especially when he expresses doubts about his performance.
Overcoming Challenges and Strategic Preparation
Chou attributes his remarkable consistency and enjoyment of the game to his faith. He often speaks about the importance of recovery in his training regimen, likening his body to a well-engineered F1 car. He believes that understanding one’s body in detail is crucial for maintaining control and peak performance, stating that many players focus solely on training without prioritizing recovery, which can lead to injuries.
In his recent quarter-final match at the World Championships, Chou defeated Alwi Farhan, a 21-year-old Indonesian rising star, with scores of 21-15, 21-15 in 50 minutes. This victory guaranteed him at least a bronze medal, marking his second career medal at the World Championships. Chou entered the match with a 2-1 career record against Farhan and utilized his defensive skills and experience to neutralize Farhan’s attacks, securing his third win in their four encounters.
During the match, Chou managed many details effectively and adapted to his opponent’s tactics. He noted that Farhan’s attacks were sharp, but he maintained his advantage through successful defense. A key moment in the opening game saw Chou win a 60-shot rally to take his seventh point. He later capitalized on unforced errors by Farhan to establish a lead, eventually closing out the first game 21-15. The second game remained tight until 11-11, after which Chou gained control by varying his pace, drops, and timely smashes. He secured victory when Farhan sent a net shot into the tape.
Focus on Faith and Future Matches
Chou’s philosophy on longevity involves continuous self-analysis, even after wins. He believes in reviewing his matches to identify areas for improvement, acknowledging that even in victory, points are lost. While he watches videos of opponents when time permits, his primary focus remains on physical preparation. He emphasized the need to be faster than Farhan in their recent match, aiming to put pressure on his opponent.
Chou has been a regular quarter-finalist at the BWF World Championships since his debut in 2013, earning his first medal at the event with a semi-final appearance in 2022. Looking ahead, he expressed his approach to upcoming matches: “I won’t think about a particular goal. I will just fight as hard as I can without any burden and leave everything to Jesus. I believe God will make the best arrangements.”
Chou was scheduled to face Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the semi-finals.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Priya Menon 