Now Reading: Chou Tien-chen becomes oldest World Championships medallist at 36
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Chou Tien-chen becomes oldest World Championships medallist at 36
Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen, 36 years and 225 days old, has become the oldest men's singles medallist in Badminton World Championships history after reaching the semifinals in New Delhi. He secured a bronze…
Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen, 36 years and 225 days old, has become the oldest men's singles medallist in Badminton World Championships history after reaching the semifinals in New Delhi. He secured a bronze medal, his second at the event after 2022, but lost the semifinal to Japan's 25-year-old Kodai Naraoka in three games: 21-17, 11-21, 10-21. The match lasted 74 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Chou was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in April 2023 and underwent surgery, returning to win the Thailand Masters in February 2024. He has over 600 international wins and has competed without a traditional head coach since 2019, relying instead on his physiotherapist Victoria Kao for support. Chou's gold medal record is still held by China's Lin Dan, who won in 2013 at age 30.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Brass medals at the BWF World Championships are not decided by a playoff, both losing semifinalists are awarded bronze. Chou Tien-chen's record as the oldest men's singles medallist is significant in a sport that increasingly rewards youth and explosive power. The previous holder of that mark, Lin Dan, won his fifth world title in 2013 at age 30, underscoring how Chou's 36-year-old achievement defies the physical arc of the game. His colorectal cancer diagnosis in April 2023, followed by surgery and a return to win the Thailand Masters in February 2024, adds a medical recovery arc rare in elite badminton. The tournament is organised by the Badminton World Federation, which sets the entry age rules. With no official retirement announcement, Chou's next competitive appearance remains the key marker: he continues to play without a traditional head coach, relying on his own tactical planning and his physiotherapist's support.
Source: aajtak.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
