Chen Long has a perfect set of Olympic medals. Bronze in 2012, Gold in 2016 and Silver in 2021. The affable Chinese champion wasn’t allergic to breaking into smiles, interacting with the crowd when he played, stayed remarkably rooted when he won, and barely frowned or snarled when he lost. A 36-year-old mustachioed coach now, he carries the same vibe into the group he is training, as one of China’s coaches in Guwahati, where the Badminton World Junior Championships is underway.

It’s not a tournament that the Chinese take easy though. Save for being ridiculously talented and acknowledged by their many tier screening systems as such, the World Juniors is that rare ticket to break into an insanely talented seniors cohort at the national camp. For several Chinese shuttlers, it can spell a car

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