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⬅️ Previous capture (2021-12-04)
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One of my favorite professional badminton players is a Chinese woman named He Bingjiao. She medaled in the BWF World Championships in 2018, as well as winning a number of tournaments including the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, the 2015 Asian Junior Championships, and the 2019 Korea Open. Her accomplishments, though, are not why I admire her.
One of her more well-known matches was against Japanese player Akane Yamaguchi at the 2018 French Open. Yamaguchi is a very agile player and great at returning, and in that match she sent He all over the court to retrieve her shots. By the time the match reached the back half of the second game, He was already quite worn out. From start to finish, though, she didn't give up. While she ultimately lost the match, she managed to put up a fight until the end, even reaching 18-18 during the third game.
Her determination to struggle on has been an inspiration for me as I continue to work out. When I feel as though I'm not going to be able to finish an exercise, or I want to stop and quit, I think of He and her match against Yamaguchi. She didn't give up, and neither should I.
I haven't cared about sports for much of my life, but with my new-found fascination with badminton, I understand why so many people become so invested, not just in the game but in the athletes. I'm glad to have found a sport that helps me find the perseverance bring about changes in my life that require hard work.
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[Last updated: 2021-10-28]