At a time when Chinese badminton had suddenly fallen into decline, the sport’s once-glorious stars seemed to vanish from people’s memories overnight. The names of legendary players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei were no longer mentioned, and even their achievements were forgotten. Badminton across the country took a sharp downturn. Top players retired one after another, audiences lost interest in tournaments, and the sport was pushed to the margins.
Yet Zheng Tianqi was an exception. He not only remembered the badminton legends of the past, but also maintained a level of play comparable to theirs at their peak. Zheng Tianqi showed extraordinary talent from a young age, training four hours every day from the age of six, come rain or shine. Although a family upheaval three years ago forced him to give up professional training, his love for badminton never faded.
By chance, Zheng Tianqi displayed astonishing skill at a school team match, catching the eye of Wang Jianguo, a provincial team coach. Coach Wang saw the immense potential hidden within Zheng Tianqi and decided to recruit him for the provincial team, hoping he could restore Chinese badminton to its former glory. As the sport continued to decline, Zheng Tianqi took on the task of bringing it back, embarking on a journey from the provincial team to the national team and then onto the international stage.
On this challenging and glorious road, he must not only defeat powerful opponents, but also surpass himself and rediscover his original love and faith in badminton. Every step Zheng Tianqi takes is hard-won, but he believes that as long as he never gives up, one day he will bring Chinese badminton back to the top of the world.
