He Bingjiao Announces Retirement from International Badminton After Paris 2024 Silver Medal
New Delhi: Following a remarkable journey in international badminton, He Bingjiao of China has announced her retirement from the global stage at the age of 27. The news was confirmed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on August 13. While she steps away from international competition, He Bingjiao will continue to participate in domestic tournaments.
He Bingjiao’s decision comes on the heels of a standout performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she clinched a silver medal in the women’s singles category. In the final, He Bingjiao faced South Korea’s top-seeded An Se Young and was defeated with scores of 13-21, 16-21. Despite falling short of gold, her second-place finish was the pinnacle of her career at a major tournament. Her impressive run to the final included victories over India’s PV Sindhu in the Round of 16 and the second seed Chen Yufei in the quarter-finals.
One of the most poignant moments of the Paris Olympics was He Bingjiao’s tribute to Spanish shuttler Carolina Marin, who retired injured during their semi-final clash. He Bingjiao wore a Spanish pin on the podium in honor of Marin, who was unable to compete for her second Olympic gold due to a knee injury.
Throughout her career, He Bingjiao has demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience. She leaves behind an impressive record of 336 wins and 125 losses from 461 singles matches. In 2024 alone, she secured 27 victories out of 36 games. Her career began with rigorous training at Suzhou Junior Sports School, and she made her senior international debut at the 2013 Vietnam Open.
He Bingjiao first gained prominence in 2014 when she finished as the runner-up in the BWF World Junior Championships to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. Later that year, she won gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, her hometown. Beyond her individual achievements, He Bingjiao was a key member of the Chinese teams that won the Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup. She also earned bronze medals at the 2018 and 2021 World Championships.
Her decision to retire marks the end of a distinguished chapter in badminton, but her legacy will endure through her contributions to the sport and her inspiring performances on the court.
FOLLOW FOR MORE .
