Liu Yuchen Explained

Liu Yuchen
刘雨辰
Size:240 px
Country:China
Birth Date:1995 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Beijing, China
Height:1.93 m
Weight:88 kg
Retired:19 August 2024
Handedness:Right
Event:Men's & mixed doubles
Highest Ranking:1 (MD with Li Junhui, 6 April 2017)
38 (XD, 27 October 2016)
Bwf Id:1F2680FC-C5A6-498D-84CC-B806CFA4F979

Liu Yuchen (born 25 July 1995) is a Chinese former badminton player.[1] He was the men's doubles World Champion in 2018,[2] two-time Asian Champion in 2017 and 2018,[3] [4] and also a silver medalist at the 2020 Summer Olympics partnered with Li Junhui.[5] Liu was part of the national team that won the 2018 Asian Games, 2018 Thomas Cup, and 2019 Sudirman Cup.[6] [7] [8] Together with Li, he achieved the men's doubles world number 1 in 6 April 2017, and occupied the top ranking for ten weeks.[9]

Career

Liu competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[10] Partnered with Li Junhui, he won a silver medal in the men's doubles after being defeated by Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of Chinese Taipei in the final in straight games, 18–21, 12–21.[5] Following the loss, he and Li received immense backlash from Chinese netizens for being unable to win the gold medal.[11]

In 2022, Liu started a new partnership with Ou Xuanyi after Li Junhui's retirement.[12] In the Indonesia Open, the duo beat Korea's Choi Sol-gyu and Kim Won-ho to become the first men’s doubles pair from the reserves’ list to win a Super 1000 title.[13] They qualified to compete at the World Tour Finals and emerged victorious after beating Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in the final.[14]

In 2023, Liu and Ou helped the Chinese national team reach the final round of the Sudirman Cup. Facing former world no. 1 pair Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the semi-finals while Japan was leading the tie 2–1, Liu and Ou saved four match points being down 16–20 in the deciding set and converted their first to keep China alive in the tie. They eventually got into the final. Liu said after the match, "We didn’t think too much. We played each point. We kept doing what we did towards the end. It’s unbelievable." After compatriot and world no. 1 Jia Yifan won the deciding rubber, she stated, "We wouldn’t be here if not for the men’s doubles, they did a great job."[15] Ultimately, the Chinese national team went on to win the 2023 Sudirman Cup.[16]

Liu competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but failed to make it into the knockout tournament. Some fans and commentators have attributed Liu pair's absence from the knockout tournament to his group being ridiculously stacked compared to the other groups.[17] [18] In addition, Kim Astrup, whose pair was in the same group as Liu's, remarked that making it into the quarter-finals from their group deserved a medal on its own due to how loaded their group was.[19]

On 19 August 2024, Liu announced his retirement from international badminton.[20]

Personal life

His sister, Liu Jing, is a swimmer.[21]

Liu is often jokingly called Hendra Setiawan's 'eldest son' by fans, due to his public admiration towards the elder shuttler and his closeness with Setiawan's family.[22] Liu himself has acknowledged the joke in an Instagram post with Setiawan's family during the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta.[23]

Liu's father is the coach of the Beijing Municipal women's Badminton team. His mother has also coached the Beijing badminton team.

On 2 August 2024, Liu proposed to his girlfriend, fellow Chinese badminton player and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Huang Yaqiong, right after she received her gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Adidas Arena, Paris, which she accepted.[24] [25]

Achievements

Olympic Games

Men's doubles

BWF World Championships

Men's doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2018Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park,
Nanjing, China
Li Junhui Takeshi Kamura
Keigo Sonoda
21–12, 21–19 Gold
2019St. Jakobshalle,
Basel, Switzerland
Li Junhui Takuro Hoki
Yugo Kobayashi
19–21, 13–21 Bronze.[26]

Asian Games

Men's doubles

Asian Championships

Men's doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2014Gimcheon Indoor Stadium,
Gimcheon, South Korea
Li Junhui Shin Baek-cheol
Yoo Yeon-seong
20–22, 17–21 Silver[28]
2016Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium,
Wuhan, China
Li Junhui Lee Yong-dae
Yoo Yeon-seong
14–21, 26–28 Silver[29]
2017Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium,
Wuhan, China
Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Wang Yilyu
21–14, 21–12 Gold
2018Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium,
Wuhan, China
Li Junhui Takeshi Kamura
Keigo Sonoda
11–21, 21–10, 21–13 Gold

BWF World Junior Championships

Boys' doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2012Chiba Port Arena,
Chiba, Japan
Wang Yilyu Lee Chun Hei
Ng Ka Long
10–21, 11–21 Bronze[30]
2013Hua Mark Indoor Stadium,
Bangkok, Thailand
Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Zheng Siwei
14–21, 21–13, 22–20 Gold[31]

Mixed doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2012Chiba Port Arena,
Chiba, Japan
Chen Qingchen Edi Subaktiar
Melati Daeva Oktavianti
21–14, 18–21, 11–21 Bronze
2013Hua Mark Indoor Stadium,
Bangkok, Thailand
Huang Dongping Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
Masita Mahmudin
21–6, 17–21, 19–21 Bronze[32]

Asian Junior Championships

Boys' doubles

Mixed doubles

YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2012Gimcheon Indoor Stadium,
Gimcheon, South Korea
Chen Qingchen Choi Sol-gyu
Chae Yoo-jung
17–21, 19–21 Bronze[34]
2013Likas Indoor Stadium,
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Huang Dongping Choi Sol-gyu
Chae Yoo-jung
11–21, 21–19, 13–21 Silver

BWF World Tour (7 titles, 7 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017, and implemented in 2018,[35] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[36]

Men's doubles

YearTournamentLevelPartnerOpponentScoreResult
2018Indonesia MastersSuper 500 Li Junhui Marcus Fernaldi Gideon
Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
21–11, 10–21, 16–21 Runner-up
2018Japan OpenSuper 750 Li Junhui Marcus Fernaldi Gideon
Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
11–21, 13–21 Runner-up
2018BWF World Tour FinalsWorld Tour Finals Li Junhui21–15, 21–11 Winner
2019Malaysia OpenSuper 750 Li Junhui Takeshi Kamura
Keigo Sonoda
21–12, 21–17 Winner
2019Thailand OpenSuper 500 Li Junhui Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Chirag Shetty
19–21, 21–18, 18–21 Runner-up
2019Macau OpenSuper 300 Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Liu Cheng
21–8, 18–21, 22–20 Winner
2020Malaysia MastersSuper 500 Li Junhui Kim Gi-jung
Lee Yong-dae
14–21, 16–21 Runner-up
2022German OpenSuper 300 Ou Xuanyi Goh Sze Fei
Nur Izzuddin
21–23, 21–16, 14–21 Runner-up
2022Korea MastersSuper 300 Ou Xuanyi Kim Gi-jung
Kim Sa-rang
14–21, 16–21 Runner-up
2022Indonesia OpenSuper 1000 Ou Xuanyi Choi Sol-gyu
Kim Won-ho
21–17, 23–21 Winner
2022Australian OpenSuper 300 Ou Xuanyi Ong Yew Sin
Teo Ee Yi
21–16, 22–20 Winner
BWF World Tour FinalsWorld Tour Finals Ou Xuanyi Mohammad Ahsan
Hendra Setiawan
21–17, 19–21, 21–12 Winner
2023Hylo OpenSuper 300 Ou Xuanyi Lee Yang
Wang Chi-lin
24–22, 21–13 Winner
2023Japan MastersSuper 500 Ou Xuanyi He Jiting
Ren Xiangyu
14–21, 21–15, 15–21 Runner-up

BWF Superseries (2 titles, 3 runners-up)

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006, and implemented in 2007,[37] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[38] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Men's doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
2016Japan Open Li Junhui Kim Gi-jung
Ko Sung-hyun
21–12, 21–12 Winner
2016Korea Open Li Junhui Lee Yong-dae
Yoo Yeon-seong
21–15, 20–22, 18–21 Runner-up
2017All England Open Li Junhui Marcus Fernaldi Gideon
Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
19–21, 14–21 Runner-up
2017Singapore Open Li Junhui Mathias Boe
Carsten Mogensen
13–21, 14–21 Runner-up
2017Indonesia Open Li Junhui Mathias Boe
Carsten Mogensen
21–19, 19–21, 21–18 Winner

BWF Superseries Finals tournament

BWF Superseries Premier tournament

BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (7 titles, 2 runners-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Men's doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
2013New Zealand Open Li Junhui Angga Pratama
Rian Agung Saputro
6–21, 20–22 Runner-up
2014India Grand Prix Gold Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Zheng Siwei
21–17, 19–21, 22–20 Winner
2014Chinese Taipei Open Li Junhui Andrei Adistia
Hendra Aprida Gunawan
14–21, 21–16, 16–21 Runner-up
2015China Masters Li Junhui Wang Yilyu
Zhang Wen
21–15, 19–21, 21–12 Winner
2015U.S. Open Li Junhui Manu Attri
B. Sumeeth Reddy
21–12, 21–16 Winner
2015Canada Open Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Wang Sijie
17–21, 21–12, 21–18 Winner
2015Vietnam Open Li Junhui Huang Kaixiang
Wang Sijie
21–8, 21–16 Winner
2016Chinese Taipei Open Li Junhui Chen Hung-ling
Wang Chi-lin
21–17, 17–21, 24–22 Winner

Mixed doubles

BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament

BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (3 runners-up)

Men's doubles

Mixed doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResultRef
2015China International Yu Xiaohan Zheng Siwei
Chen Qingchen
21–15, 12–21, 13–21 Runner-up
2015Osaka International Huang Dongping Kim Duck-young
Eom Hye-won
17–21, 21–16, 17–21 Runner-up[40]

BWF International Challenge tournament

BWF International Series tournament

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Players: Liu Yuchen . . 17 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Li Junhui & Liu Yuchen crowned men's doubles champions at badminton worlds . https://web.archive.org/web/20180807210614/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/05/c_137369798.htm . dead . August 7, 2018 . Xinhua . 5 August 2018 . 6 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Hearn . Don . Asian Champs 2017 Finals – Li and Liu finally top Asia . Badzine . 30 April 2017 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723130315/https://www.badzine.net/2017/04/asian-champs-finals-li-and-liu-finally-top-asia/ . 23 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Etchells . Daniel . Momota beats home favourite Chen to Badminton Asia Championships title . Inside the Games . 29 April 2018 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723130357/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1064520/momota-beats-home-favourite-chen-to-badminton-asia-championships-title . 23 July 2022.
  5. Web site: China's Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen win silver in badminton men's doubles . China Daily . Xinhua . 31 July 2021 . 9 August 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803045159/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202107/31/WS61054aa2a310efa1bd665bb6.html . 3 August 2021.
  6. Web site: Etchells . Daniel . China beat hosts Indonesia in hard-fought men's team badminton final at 2018 Asian Games . Inside the Games . 22 August 2018 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723140106/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1069111/china-beat-hosts-indonesia-in-hard-fought-mens-team-badminton-final-at-2018-asian-games . 23 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Sukumar . Dev . Title No.10 for China – Thomas Cup Final: Total BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2018 . Badminton World Federation . 27 May 2018 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723141844/https://bwfthomasubercups.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2018/05/27/title-no-10-for-china-thomas-cup-final-total-bwf-thomas-uber-cup-finals-2018/ . 23 July 2022.
  8. Web site: China gearing up for golden Games in Tokyo . China Daily . 27 May 2019 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220720184006/http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2019-05/27/content_74826110.htm . 20 July 2022.
  9. See also: Number one ranked players timeline.
  10. Web site: Badminton - LIU Yu Chen . Tokyo 2020 Olympics . . 9 August 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210806140723/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/badminton/athlete-profile-n1349540-liu-yu-chen.htm . 6 August 2021.
  11. Web site: 'Failed the nation': Chinese Olympians facing furious backlash at home . . 3 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623172953/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/448378/failed-the-nation-chinese-olympians-facing-furious-backlash-at-home. 23 June 2023. live.
  12. Web site: K. Koijam. Rohani. Siti. 2021-11-12. Olympic Silver medalist Li Jun Hui retires. 2021-11-13. 360Badminton. https://web.archive.org/web/20230530143840/https://360badminton.com/news/olympic-silver-medalist-li-jun-hui-retires/. 30 May 2023. dead.
  13. Web site: Indonesia Open: Milestones continue to tumble . . 19 June 2022 . 13 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325100954/https://bwfworldtour.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2022/06/19/indonesia-open-milestones-continue-to-tumble/. 25 March 2023. live.
  14. Web site: Perfect finish to first season together . Badminton World Federation . 12 December 2022 . 13 December 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221213024558/https://bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2022/12/12/perfect-finish-to-first-season/ . 13 December 2022.
  15. News: Dev. Sukumar. One point too far for Japan. 21 May 2023. 21 May 2023. BWF. https://web.archive.org/web/20230607120810/https://bwfsudirmancup.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2023/05/21/one-point-too-far-for-japan/. 7 June 2023. live.
  16. News: Sweet 13th for China. 21 May 2023. Dev. Sukumar. 7 October 2023. BWF. https://web.archive.org/web/20231026102718/https://bwfsudirmancup.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2023/05/21/sweet-13th-for-china. 26 October 2023. live.
  17. Web site: MD draw finalized, this is a joke . Reddit.
  18. Web site: Taiwan's Wang and Lee enjoy comfortable win over US pair . 2024-08-13.
  19. Web site: Danes Survive Group of Death . Dev . Sukumar . 2024-08-01 . Badminton World Federation.
  20. Web site: 2024-08-20 . “各位,我先下船了” 刘雨辰深情告别 . 2024-08-20 . 中國報 China Press . zh .
  21. Web site: 甜蜜!中国体坛又一冠军情侣正式公开恋情,郎才女貌超般配 . Sohu . 27 March 2019.
  22. Web site: Bola.com . 2023-03-17 . 7 Potret Keakraban Hendra Setiawan dan Liu Yu Chen, Kocak Mengklaim Bernama Yuchen Setiawan . 2023-12-20 . bola.com . id.
  23. Web site: 27 January 2023 . @liuyuchen88888 on Instagram . 20 December 2023 . Instagram.
  24. Web site: Love and badminton: China's Huang Yaqiong gets Olympic gold medal and marriage proposal . Mark . Giannotto . 2024-08-02 . USA Today.
  25. Web site: Olympic Medalist Proposes To Teammate On Live TV... She Said 'YES!' . 2024-08-02 . TMZ Sports.
  26. Web site: 羽毛球——世锦赛:李俊慧/刘雨辰无缘决赛 . Sohu . 25 August 2019 . 23 July 2022 . zh.
  27. Web site: 综合消息:国羽亚运会顺利收官 斩获3金1银2铜 . Xinhua . 28 August 2018 . 23 July 2022 . zh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723150614/http://sports.xinhuanet.com/c/2018-08/28/c_1123338333.htm . 23 July 2022.
  28. Web site: 亚洲羽毛球锦标赛落幕 林丹三次夺得亚锦赛冠军 . Sohu . 28 April 2014 . 23 July 2022 . zh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723230044/https://sports.sohu.com/20140428/n398919917.shtml . 23 July 2022.
  29. Web site: 2016年羽毛球亚锦赛落幕 国羽夺得两冠 . General Administration of Sport of China . 3 May 2016 . 23 July 2022 . zh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723230118/https://www.sport.gov.cn/n20001280/n20745751/n20767274/c22078743/content.html . 23 July 2022.
  30. Web site: Five Japanese advance to Finals of World Junior individual events . BadPaL . 2 November 2012 . 24 July 2022 . ja. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724004128/https://badpal.net/2012/11/02/five-japanese-advance-to-finals-of-world-junior-individual-events/ . 24 July 2022.
  31. Web site: SCG BWF World Junior Championships 2013 – China and Korea share spoils . Badminton World Federation . 4 November 2013 . 23 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220723233807/https://bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2013/11/04/scg-bwf-world-junior-championships-2013-china-and-korea-share-spoils . 23 July 2022.
  32. Web site: [World Junior Championships 2013] Luar Biasa! Kevin/Masita ke Partai Puncak ]. PB Djarum . 2 November 2013 . 24 July 2022 . id . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724020146/https://pbdjarum.org/berita/turnamen-internasional/20131102-world-junior-championships-2013-luar-biasa-kevinmasita-ke-partai-puncak . 24 July 2022.
  33. Web site: 羽球亚青赛-中国夺两双打冠军 大马日本男女单折桂 . Sina . 14 July 2013 . 24 July 2022 . zh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724000732/http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2013-07-14/17176670301.shtml . 24 July 2022.
  34. Web site: Hearn . Don . Asian Juniors 2012 SF – Home team goes 2 for 2 . Badzine . 6 July 2012 . 24 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724001620/http://www.badzine.net/2012/07/asian-juniors-sf-home-team-goes-2-for-2/ . 24 July 2022.
  35. Web site: Alleyne . Gayle . BWF Launches New Events Structure . . 19 March 2017 . 29 November 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201164159/http://bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2017/03/19/bwf-launches-new-event-structure/ . 1 December 2017.
  36. Web site: Sukumar . Dev . Action-Packed Season Ahead! . Badminton World Federation . 10 January 2018 . 15 January 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180113162925/http://bwfworldtour.com/news-single/2018/01/10/action-packed-season-ahead/ . 13 January 2018.
  37. Web site: BWF Launches Super Series . Badminton Australia . 15 December 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071006123828/http://www.badminton.org.au/index.php?id=22&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=136&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=2&cHash=26fb36d8a5 . dead . 6 October 2007.
  38. Web site: Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event . IBadmintonstore . 29 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002005757/http://www.ibadmintonstore.com/iBADMINTONstore-News/Yonex-All-England-Elevated-To-BWF-Premier-Super-Se.aspx . dead . 2 October 2013.
  39. Web site: 2015年中国(陵水)国际羽毛球挑战赛圆满结束 . Phoenix New Media . 1 February 2015 . 24 July 2022 . zh . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724002631/http://hainan.ifeng.com/yuanchuang/detail_2015_02/01/3507175_0.shtml . 24 July 2022.
  40. Web site: Komiya . Miyuki . Osaka Int'l 2015 – Japan shares titles with China, Korea . Badzine . 5 April 2015 . 24 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724003246/https://www.badzine.net/2015/04/osaka-intl-japan-shares-titles-with-china-korea/ . 24 July 2022.