Chinese badminton player Chen Yufei Photo: VCG

 
China's newly crowned badminton Hall of Famers are telling Chinese athletes to be mentally prepared for the ­Tokyo Olympics, as they believe mentality plays a key role when competing at a major competition. 

China's Olympic gold medalists Zhang Ning, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were inducted into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame earlier this month. 

Cai, a former Olympic gold medalist in men's doubles with partner Fu Haifeng, said that the young athletes should speak out about their anxiety to coaches rather than keeping it to themselves. 

"Many athletes do not have competitive chances in these two years due to the pandemic," Cai told reporters at a virtual ceremony held by the world badminton governing body. 

"But it is the same for everyone. Speak out of your anxiety to coaches, as resolution comes first than techniques at major competitions." 

Cai and Fu conceded to ­Indonesian pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan at the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at home. But the duo managed to bounce back to win gold in London four years later.

Fu suggested that Chinese athletes should adapt to an "Olympic lifestyle" in advance to competing in the Tokyo Olympics.

"Ensure your daily life in the remaining days toward the Olympic Games like you are during the Olympics, that will help build confidence during the Games," Fu told the reporters. 

Zhang, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in women's badminton singles, warned that young athletes must also shrug off complacency, as she called for solid daily training before the Olympic. 

She has pinned her hopes of Olympic women's singles gold on Chen Yufei, a 23-year-old, amid the fierce competition from Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei, Japanese local Nozomi Okuhara and India's PV Sindhu.

"They all are title favorites and are very close in terms of ability," Zhang said. 

"The only difference is who performs better at the Olympics."