Shuttling her way back to the top

A different mindset

On Aug 27, during the World Badminton Federation's rankings update, Chen confirmed her application for ranking protection.

After the Paris Olympics, she chose not to compete in several events, including the Japan Open and multiple BWF World Tour tournaments. Instead, she made her return to competition at the China Badminton Super League in late December.

Despite stepping back from the international scene, Chen remained closely engaged with the Chinese team's progress. She expressed particular pride in the performance of young Wang Zhiyi, who claimed victory over South Korea's An Se-young in the Denmark Open final.

"I've been following my teammates' matches closely, and I'm excited to see everyone giving their all. Although I'm currently playing in domestic leagues, I'm eager to return to the international stage," she said.

"For me, the most important thing now is having the desire to win and the ambition to succeed. I need to adopt a mindset where I'm ready to take on the challenge," Chen said.

As China's leading women's singles player, Chen's decision to target another Olympic appearance offers renewed hope for the national team.

Reflecting on her earlier challenges, she shared: "I haven't been defeated by age, injury, or anything external. It's been about my own mindset. The time off gave me the chance to recharge, and I now have a deeper understanding of the toughness of competitive sports. Winning requires not just hard work, but also a 'hunger' to succeed."

Chen's return to the court marks an exciting new chapter, with her sights firmly set on the next Olympic Games.

After her loss at the Paris Olympics, Chen revealed a pivotal conversation with two-time Olympic champion Zhang Ning.

Zhang shared that, upon hearing of Chen's defeat, her first instinct was to message her with criticism, calling her lack of aggressiveness into question.

However, after some reflection, she softened her stance, opting instead to offer Chen words of comfort.

Chen also asked Zhang what motivated her to return to the Olympics in her 30s. Zhang responded that it was driven by a sense of "defiance" — a desire to prove her doubters wrong.

This exchange moved and inspired Chen.

"I haven't fully let go of badminton yet. I believe I still have plenty of room for improvement, which is why I want to continue playing," she said.

"No matter what challenges lie ahead, I know I can overcome them if I believe in myself."

When Zhang learned of Chen's decision to target the Los Angeles Olympics, she was thrilled and left a supportive message on Chen's Weibo: "I've watched you grow from a young, inexperienced player into an Olympic champion. Along the way, you've faced many setbacks, injuries, pain and the joy of victories," Zhang wrote.

"Now you're starting your third Olympic journey. I'm proud of your courage. I hope your persistence and resilience help you become even stronger and contribute to both Chinese badminton and the nation's glory," Zhang added.

Chen will make her international return, and will also serve as event ambassador, at next week's 2025 Asian Mixed Team Championships in Qingdao, Shandong province.

The event runs from Feb 11 to 16.