Ex-national badminton player Xing Aiying makes up for lost time with World Senior Championships title

SINGAPORE – More than a decade after injuries forced her to walk away from the sport, former national badminton player Xing Aiying is rediscovering the thrill of competition again.

Her professional career ended in 2013 when she was just 24, cutting short a journey that had already seen her become a multiple SEA Games medallist, a member of the women’s team who clinched bronze at the 2006 Asian Games and an Olympian at Beijing 2008.

But the competitive streak in her remained. On Sept 14, Xing captured the women’s singles 35+ title at the Badminton World Federation World Senior Championships after beating Japan’s Konomi Nomura 21-18, 21-13 in the final.

The 36-year-old private coach said: “For me, it’s a form of affirmation. Twenty years ago, I won my first open championship (in the US), and 20 years later, I’ve won my first senior championship. I’m truly happy for myself.”

It was her maiden appearance at the World Senior Championships, open to players aged 35 and above.

At the Eastern National Sports Training Centre in Pattaya, Thailand, Xing blazed through the field without dropping a game.

After receiving a bye in the round of 64 and a walkover against India’s Sonal Kapil Jagdale in the next round, Xing swept Ukraine’s Olha Buvaieva 21-8, 21-3 in the last 16, before easing past Japan’s Yorika Kawata 21-4, 21-6 in the quarter-finals.

She then beat Thailand’s Piyarat Jarajapreedee 21-11, 21-6 in the semi-finals, before overcoming Nomura, the women’s doubles silver medallist, in just 29 minutes.

Her path to gold was not straightforward, as old injuries flared up during her preparation. But her friends ensured that she still had some match practice by arranging for her to play once or twice every few weeks.

Born in Jiangsu, Xing moved to the Republic in 2003 after being recruited by the Singapore Badminton Association.

A year later, she won the 2004 US Open at 15 and eventually rose to a career-high world ranking of 16th.

She has enjoyed a return to competition, saying: “In the past, when competing, the pressure was definitely much greater than now. And with such exhausting daily training, I felt it would be unacceptable not to play well.

“Now, if I can manage one or two hours of activity every week or two, that’s already perfect.

“So, when I compete now, I still give my all, but as for the outcome, I’m not as fixated on it as I was. But I’m still very happy – I did it.”

Xing also teamed up with former national badminton player Danny Bawa Chrisnanta to take bronze in the mixed doubles 35+ event, where they fell to eventual silver medallists Nawut Thanathiratham and Peeraya Munkitamorn 17-21, 21-11, 21-10 in the semi-finals.

Chrisnanta also struck gold in the men’s doubles 35+ with Indonesian Fernando Kurniawan, beating France’s Laurent Constantin and Brice Leverdez 21-14, 21-16 in the final.

The two golds capped Singapore’s campaign in Pattaya, which also yielded five bronzes in the men’s singles 35+ (Ashton Chen), mixed doubles 35+ (Xing and Chrisnanta), men’s singles 65+ (Foo Kon Fai), men’s doubles 65+ (Foo Kon Fai and Ng Kok Seong) and mixed doubles 65+ (Foo Kon Fai and Bessie Ong).

The Republic was represented by 44 athletes at this meet.

Since retiring in 2022, Chrisnanta, also a private coach, has continued competing whenever his schedule allows.

The Indonesia-born player, who has represented Singapore since 2007, is no stranger to the podium having won medals at the SEA Games, Asian Team Championships and Commonwealth Games.

But the World Senior Championships offered him something different – a rare shot at a medal on the global stage.

For the 36-year-old, however, it was about more than personal achievement.

The father of two said: “Because I have the passion for badminton and my students can see it and to also show my kids that ‘Daddy can actually play very well’.

“Last time I didn’t get any medals at the world championships, so now at least I have a gold medal, even if it’s in the seniors.”

It also gave him the chance to reunite with Kurniawan, a long-time friend from his junior badminton days.

While balancing preparation for the tournament with family and coaching commitments was not easy, Chrisnanta hopes to continue competing.

He said: “I’m very happy because this title is very important for me after all the preparation, hard work and sacrifices because I have to spend time away from my family, to finally get a gold medal, everything has paid off.”

Praising the Singapore team’s performance, team manager Victor Sim said: “I hope their achievements can inspire and encourage more from our Singapore seniors community to compete again at this world championship stage, and at the same time, stay healthy with active ageing.”