Chen Yufei. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

On the evening of Dec 13, Hangzhou native badminton star Chen Yufei, a focal point for fans at the BWF World Tour Finals, made her appearance in the first group stage match of the women's singles and secured a hard-fought victory against compatriot Han Yue with a score of 2-1.

"The match was challenging, and I didn't adapt well to the speed, resulting in quite a few mistakes," said Chen. She explained that due to recent health issues, she was unable to train properly, affecting her physical condition, especially with the increased intensity of the matches.

Chen expressed the view that the absence of injuries for all players is a positive outcome. She hopes that both she and Han can perform well in the upcoming matches and strive to advance together.

Despite her loss, Han remained optimistic. "Overall, my performance was relatively normal. I played well in the first two games, but in the third, I felt fatigued, and I lost points too quickly. I became a bit impatient," she reflected. However, what made her happy was not just the novelty of participating in her first finals but also a special gift from Chen.

Chen gifted all women's singles players with food from Hangzhou, showcasing the city's unique pastries and snacks. "During the Asian Games, we all stayed in the village, and there wasn't much time to buy local food. Since this city is my home, I wanted to welcome everyone to Hangzhou with these snacks."

Athletes show off their gifts from Chen Yufei. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]