PARIS (TVBS News) — Tokyo Olympics gold medalists Lee Yang (李洋) and Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) triumphed over their Chinese opponents on Wednesday (July 31) in the final preliminary match of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Taiwanese pair, who won 2-1, secured their spot in the top eight. After losing the first set 17-21, Lee and Wang rebounded in the second set, pulling ahead after an 11-8 technical timeout and ultimately winning.
In an interview after the game, Wang humorously reflected on his performance, noting, "The first set was just normal Wang, with a bunch of errors. Luckily, Lee Yang kept encouraging me, told me to hang in there, and he didn't make faces." Lee then responded, saying, "That's because I turned my head around when I felt angry before smiling at you."
The Taiwanese badminton duo's interactions highlight their strong camaraderie, and their victory marks a significant improvement from their previous Olympic experience. Wang expressed surprise at their undefeated advancement, stating, "I didn't think it was going to work out after we drew the lots, but we've just been playing one game at a time, and this year it feels especially solid, at least we don't have to rely on other people to get us to the next level like we did in the last Tokyo Olympics."
Fans can look forward to seeing Lee and Wang's continued performance as they advance further in the competition. The duo's resilience and teamwork will be crucial in the upcoming matches.