Beijing: Standing at 183 cm, the former World No. 4 women’s singles player of China – Sun Yu, has decided to hang up her racquet.
In a statement posted on her social media blog, Sun said: “When I was a kid, I like to run on the field and I started playing badminton when I was in third grade.
At that time, I also like to play piano and practice calligraphy. However, in order to focus on badminton, I had to give up on those. It’s been 19 years since 2000. I am very fortunate that I had chosen this sport and everything badminton had brought me. I’ve met many friends, role models, and some friends who supported me. Badminton had allowed me to grow and learn a lot.
From the local team to the state team then to the national team, it’s really a dream come true for me. When the Chinese women squad won the Uber Cup in 2014 under the leadership of Li Xuerui, Wang Yihan, Wang Shixian, I was so excited that I almost felt like I was about to have a heart attack! I managed to calm down when I heard the Chinese national anthem that brought me great sense of pride.
I am also very thankful to my coaches who taught me patiently. However, I have to give up the sport I love due to cumulative effect to all of those injuries I picked up in 17 years. I would like to say thank you to the fans who have always supported me. Thank you for your love and you guys really motivated me!
It is now 2019, and today, I am announcing my retirement from the sport that has been with me for the past 19-years. Life will go on, I will continue to work on things related to badminton and I would like to say this to everyone who had helped me: Thank you! I hope everyone a happy new year.”
Sun Yu was born in 1994. In 2014, she won the Uber Cup as the youngest members of the Chinese badminton women’s squad. She was also considered as a top women’s singles prospect by the head coach Li Yongbo at that time.
However, in 2017, Sun Yu suffered a serious knee effusion or water on the knee injury where she could hardly move on the court. Although she was able to return to the competition after the treatment, her results were not satisfactory. On August 16, 2018, she announced her retirement from the Chinese national team on her social media page.
