Photo: Xinhua News Agency

 
Chinese badminton player He Bingjiao has retired from international badminton, the Badminton World Federation(BWF) announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old won her career-best Olympic silver in women's singles at Paris2024 on August 5. 

BWF has already removed He from women's singles world rankings.

This has garnered worldwide attention as netizens were impressed by the sportsmanship He demostrated by holding up a Spanish flag pin when she was awarded the medal on the podium. He had qualified for the final after Spain's Carolina Martin was forced to retire midway due to injury. Her gesture and her heartfelt wishes for Marin's speedy recovery resonated deeply with viewers.  

Netizens left posts wishing her well and expressing gratitude for her efforts. "Thank you, He Bingjiao, for showing true sportsmanship and grace. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!" wrote an admirer.

He was born in 1997 and started playing badminton at the age of five. In 2014, He defeated Akane Yamaguchi winning the gold medal in women's singles badminton at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.

After joining the national team, He's achievements skyrocketed. In 2015, she won titles at the China Masters, Asian Junior Championships, BWF World Junior Championships, and the Indonesia Masters. In 2016, He claimed a total of five championship titles in both team and individual events.

Her performance continued to improve steadily, and she once reached fifth place in the world rankings. However, during the era dominated by the "Big Four" of women's singles, Tai Tzu Ying, An Se-young, Akane Yamaguchi and Chen Yufei, He found it difficult to break through further. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, He advanced all the way to the finals, ultimately losing to An Se-young and winning the silver medal.

Throughout her career, He has won four World Championship titles. In 2021 and 2023, she helped her team win the Sudirman Cup World Badminton Mixed Team Championship twice. In 2020 and 2024, she also helped her team win the Uber Cup women's team championship twice. In the Olympic singles competition, He finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

Global Times