Li Shifeng

Li Shifeng is well-known Chinese badminton player. Shifeng rose to prominence as a result of his achievements and unique on-court style while playing badminton. He won the men's singles championship at the 2023 All England Open, and he is currently the current champion.

He competed for China's junior squad, which took home gold in the World Junior Championship in 2017 and the Asian Junior Championship in 2018. At the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Li competed on behalf of his nation and won the gold medal in the boys' singles competition.

Early Journey

On January 9, 2000, Shifeng was born in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. At the moment, he is 23 years old. Li Shifeng is his birth name, and he doesn't go by any nicknames. He wants to be addressed by his birth name, so that is how everyone refers to him. On the other hand, he gets encouragement and support from his family to achieve his career goals. Because of his family's backing, he is today regarded as one of the most successful individuals in his industry.

After turning six years old, Li Shifeng-a person born in the year 2000-began practicing basketball. His first badminton instructor was his father, who is a doctor by profession. "When I was young, and my father's hospital arranged badminton matches, and I and my siblings often went to see him play." When his caring father, Li, saw Li Shifeng's passion for badminton, he engaged a coach who would teach him the game.

Li Shifeng became proficient more quickly than those around him because he was obedient and eager to practice more. The little badminton game had a significant influence on Li Shifeng's early years since he went from failing to strike the ball later on to progressively being able to win. Incredibly enjoyable. He reminisced excitedly, saying, "I used to love playing badminton when I was little. After training, I worked on my footwork and racket strokes. I didn't see why I should put in more practice when other kids could play."

It has been easy for Li Shifeng, who trains nonstop, to integrate into the professional squad. Li Shifeng went to school every morning as usual during his elementary school years. He cycled to the Jiangxi squad to practice with them after finishing an afternoon class, where he spent three hours a day training. In order to assess Li Shifeng's skill as a player, the sixth-grade team sent him to train with the Bayi squad.

Li Shifeng was ready to face hardships before joining the squad because he was aware that he might be sent back if he failed to perform well. Li Shifeng discovered that he could not only maintain the training tempo but also coolly handle the intensity after spending some time with the Bayi team. Li Shifeng subsequently became the first member of the Bayi Team after winning the team tour. At the age of fourteen, Li Shifeng took part in the national young team's first-ever training camp in Shenyang in 2014.

As a result of playing against older players all his childhood, strength became his "shortboard" in Li Shifeng's subconscious mind. Pulling and hanging was his go-to tactic when facing larger competitors because his strength was never an edge in these situations. Knowing how to incorporate killing the ball into your style of play properly is crucial now that it has gained potency. Li Shifeng of today is willing to abandon his pre-established style of play. He is growing, as seen by his study of his opponents and his use of backup strategies.

Li Shifeng joined the second national squad in 2017 and won the World Youth Championship team championship as well as the Asian Youth Championship team runner-up title in the same year. When it comes to such outcomes, he has no illusions of supremacy and acknowledges, very bluntly, that his strength is not much of an advantage over guys his age.

"I had just finished competing in international competitions during that time, and I gained some confidence, and my experience also improved," Li Shifeng stated. "Consequently, even if I occasionally fall behind in domestic competitions, my mental toughness will allow me to continue playing. On the court, you dare allow yourself to play freely if you can solve the difficulty. In contrast to my younger years, I may experience a significant psychological shift if I perform poorly in a particular area of the game."

Achievements

His achievements on the global scene kept growing. He was a key member of the Chinese youth squad that won the World Youth Championship in 2017 and the Asian Junior Championship in 2018, as well as the World Junior Championship in 2017. He took home gold in both the individual and team competitions.

At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Li Shifeng won gold. In the men's singles final of the Hangzhou Asian Games on October 7, 2023, Chinese badminton star Li Shifeng created history by winning the gold medal. In addition to being a personal triumph, his victory over colleague Shi Yuqi set a number of historical records for Jiangxi, his native province.

Li played an organized game in an exciting encounter, concentrating on playing a strong defense and taking advantage of opportunities to attack. His strategies were successful, as he went on to win the first game 23-21 and to dominate the second 21-13. Li's triumph validated his skill in the game and showed that he could handle pressure and plan well.

Beyond Li's accomplishments, China dominated other events in the badminton competition at the Asian Games. In the women's doubles, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan won the gold medal, and in the mixed doubles, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong effectively defended their championship. China maintained its long-standing supremacy in badminton during the Hangzhou Asian Games by winning four gold medals overall.

Li Shifeng had his sights set on the Olympics in Paris the following year after his outstanding performance. He declared his desire to aim for the gold in the men's singles, and he appears to be a serious contender based on his success in the Hangzhou Asian Games. The world will be following Li and other competitors as they get ready for the difficulties that lie ahead, hoping for more thrilling contests and possibly even some history.

He competed for China at the Buenos Aires, Argentina, Youth Olympic Games in 2018. In the boys' singles competition, he won the gold medal by outplaying his rivals with intelligent play. This demonstrated his extraordinary abilities.

Apart from that, he advanced to compete at the senior level and established himself on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour. At the Canada Open in 2019, he won his first major championship after upsetting Parupalli Kashyap of India in an exciting championship match.

He kept making an impression on the world badminton scene in the years that followed. He advanced to the finals of major competitions, including the German Open and the Thailand Open, where he gained invaluable experience and established himself as one of the best men's singles players in China. In 2023, he won the All England Open, a highly coveted prize in the badminton world, thanks to his perseverance, dedication, and steady performances.

Li Shi Feng is one of China's brightest young talents, yet he has yet to make plans to rise quickly to the top. The winner of the Youth Olympic Games, who has claimed the Canada Open, was ready for the demanding senior season of 2019.

"At the youth level, I achieved some good outcomes. I need new goals because I'm starting over from the youth competitions," Li Shifeng stated to Badminton Unlimited. "I promise not to make irrational plans. Perhaps my initial goals will be to defeat specific individuals or go to the quarterfinals and semifinals. Thus, I have to go cautiously. I'm not able to wait. I can't give up easily because it's acceptable to experience setbacks in the beginning. I must put forth a lot of effort and work hard."

Li had a successful run in Canada, defeating Koki Watanabe of Japan and Sourabh Verma of India in the semifinals and final three close games against Parupalli Kashyap, the seasoned player. At the senior level, it was his very first title.

He had made it to the finals of both the Austrian Open and the Iran Fajr International Challenge earlier that season. Later on in the evening, however, he became well-known for winning the Youth Olympic Games, a victory he celebrated by sobbing uncontrollably, much like Chen Long did at the Rio Olympics.

Playing Style and Advice to New Players

In the men's singles Asian Games, shuttler Li Shifeng has become China's greatest threat. Shifeng, the current All-England champion, was instrumental in his nation's gold medal victory in the men's team competition. It is astonishing that China has produced men's singles players of such high caliber throughout history: Zhao Jianhua, Lin Dan, Chen Jin, Chen Long, Shi Yu Qi, Yang Yang, and now Li Shifeng.

People have been keeping a close eye on Li Shifeng's games since All England this year. Because of how mature his game is for his age-tough defense, strong smashes, and a very calm approach during rallies-it is absolutely astounding. Li Shifeng brings the ideal balance of offensive and defense to the club, in contrast to his attacker-by-nature teammate Shi Yu Qi. His play style is so regimented and textbook that it reminds us of Chen Long from 2016, which is not surprising.

Not to add that Li may have the best footwork among men's singles at the moment. His strides remind us of Lin Dan from 2012-2014 because they are so clean and smooth and seem so effortless. But he could jump incredibly well when it was needed, showcasing his incredible athleticism and agility. Having won the All England and ASIAD, we hope he will start to challenge for other major championships. He has all the necessary resources and circumstances to become the newest sensation in the world of men's singles.

In direct play, the goal is to use strength and speed to gain an early advantage in the rally. When playing this style, players don't wait for an unintentional mistake from their opponent and are not passive. Due to the increased intensity of the play and the resulting physical strain on the body, this play style is physically demanding. The player must possess the strength and angles to influence the rally directly from the backcourt, as well as the quickness and variety to go to the net from the frontcourt.

The drawback is that players may become weary and lose their ability to play with as much speed and directness if their physical conditioning could be better. Therefore, mastering rest defense and applying it are essential to this style of play. Since the player doesn't depend on shot length to win the point, playing direct is also more effective when you've got faster shuttles or are playing through the drift (faster end).

Naturally, these players are capable of playing in both styles. Instead, most players have a dominant style. They occasionally vary up their techniques based on the situation by utilizing the game state, but most players have a dominant style.

Coaches believe that emerging players ought to choose and adhere to a specific game style. Ginting, Li Shifeng, or Kodai Naraoka, for instance, will only be seen playing somewhat direct or on the counter during transitions. Indeed, they have mastered the opposing strategy and will only abandon it in an emergency. Don't doubt it if your playing style fits a direct manner. Establishing a consistent gaming style is crucial as a backup plan in case you are still waiting for immediate results. Over time, you can refine your style to suit your needs.

Finding players that complement your personality and can bring out the best in you is essential because, in the end, what matters most is having chemistry on the court. Long-term success in a relationship is contingent upon both partners being willing to adapt and work toward success, even if they don't start on the same page. In this regard, the coach is most important, particularly in the early stages of the partnership.

Parents must exercise patience, particularly if their child is still physically developing and between the ages of 11 and 17. With the exception of Under-19 competitions, physically stronger players win a lot of junior badminton. While skill certainly plays a role, in certain phases, physical ability would be 80:20 compared to skill. Athletes can mature at different times.