Tien-chen defies father time to capture maiden China Open title
36-year-old Taiwanese badminton player Chou Tien-chen won his first China Open title, becoming the oldest player to win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 event. He credited his success to rigorous training, nutrition, and a positive mindset.
Why it matters
The victory marks a significant achievement in professional sports, challenging perceptions about age-related performance decline.
PETALING JAYA: Like fine wine, Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen (pic) continues to get better with age.
The 36-year-old proved age is no barrier after winning the China Open, a Super 1000 tournament, for the first time yesterday.
Tien-chen had to dig deep to beat France’s Toma Junior Popov, who is 10 years his junior, 21-15, 7-21, 21-13 in a 64-minute final at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
The victory also ended Taiwan’s 30-year wait for a men’s singles title at the China Open, with Fung Permadi having last won the crown in 1996.
The veteran admitted he never expected to reach the final, let alone lift the title.
His triumph came just a week after a disappointing first round exit to Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen at the Japan Open.
“It’s unbelievable because I never thought I would reach the final, let alone become the champion,” he said.
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