Following Taiwan's “badminton queen” Tai Tzu-ying’s return to Taiwan, fans eagerly anticipate her upcoming matches in the Japan Open.
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Even when balancing on a yoga ball, Tai Tzu-ying’s (戴資穎) shots remain precise as seen in her practice session. This requires not only excellent balance but also exceptional core strength. She even managed to knock an apple off a table with a single shot, surprising herself in the process.
Known as Taiwan's badminton queen, Tai was affected by a knee injury during the Paris 2024 Olympics. She lost to her friend Thai athlete Ratchanok Intanon, failing to reach the quarter-finals and ending her final Olympic performance. Since then, her next steps after returning to Taiwan have been closely watched.
Tai says she is currently focused on recovering from her injury and preparing for upcoming competitions. She is still unsure about what next year will bring, but the 2024 Japan Open is approaching and she feels ready to join. With An Se-young, Chen Yufei (陳雨霏), and Carolina Marín absent from the competition, Tai would be the favorite in the upcoming tournament.
Her close friend Ratchanok Intanon will also participate in this tournament and will be facing India’s Aakarshi Kashyap. If both Tai and Intanon advance, there's a chance for another exciting rematch in the round of 16.
With the Japan Open just around the corner, every match Tai plays before her retirement is precious to her fans.