From Paris Semi‑Finals to Delhi: Chen Yufei’s Quest for a World Crown

Chen Yufei’s journey from the semi‑finals in Paris to the courts of Delhi illustrates a relentless pursuit of badminton’s highest honor. The Olympic champion, who has consistently reached the latter stages of major tournaments this year, now faces the BWF World Championships with a singular focus on self‑improvement.

In Paris, Chen battled world No.1 An Se‑Young in a tight semi‑final before falling to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final – a match that also exposed a nagging ankle injury. “That experience taught me how fragile confidence can be,” Chen reflected.

Returning to the Asian circuit, she advanced to the finals of the Thailand Open and Malaysia Masters and made semi‑final appearances in Singapore and Indonesia. Yet, she refuses to let past results dictate her mindset in Delhi.

“The biggest obstacle is my own mind,” Chen said at a pre‑tournament press conference at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. “If I can keep my thoughts in check, the rest will fall into place.” She dismissed any external pressure to reclaim the women’s singles world title for China, a feat not achieved since 2011.

The venue’s conditions are more stable than the windy India Open, but the weather remains a factor. Chen admitted her preparation was not ideal, having taken more rest than intensive training in the weeks before the event.

With a clear plan to treat each match as a separate battle, Chen hopes to silence the inner critic that has often limited her. “When I control myself, I can give my best on court,” she affirmed.