三载蹉跎终迎竞技之战

5:21, 7:21, Surinamese badminton player Soren Opti loses to Paris Olympics men's singles top seed Shi Yuqi.

This was a match that should have taken place three years ago.

Three years ago, 24-year-old Opti qualified for the Tokyo Olympics men's singles event and was drawn into the same group as Shi Yuqi. However, just before his departure, Opti tested positive for COVID-19. According to the regulations at the time, he had to withdraw from the competition, thus missing the chance to face Shi Yuqi.

"When I found out that I couldn't go to Tokyo, I was extremely disappointed. But I managed to adjust and it was an Olympics like no other," Opti said.

With the anticipation of the Paris Olympics, Opti threw himself into preparing for the new Olympic cycle.

Suriname is a small country in South America, and badminton is not a popular sport there. Opti had a hard time finding opponents of similar strength for training. "While teaching others to play, I trained myself. People would feed me shuttlecocks three days a week, but they were amateurs or people with jobs. When no one was available to feed, I could only focus on footwork or strength training."

In 2024, Opti successfully secured a spot in the Paris Olympics. Perhaps it was destined, he once again found himself in the same group as Shi Yuqi. By this time, Shi Yuqi had overcome his injuries from the Tokyo Olympics cycle and achieved excellent form this year. He currently ranks world No. 1 and came to Paris as the top seed.

For Opti, who is ranked 274 in the world, it was impossible to advance from the group stage in the Olympic men's singles event. Therefore, facing the top seed was the most exciting experience he could have at the Olympics. Finally, this delayed match took place at the Stade de La Chapelle Sports Arena in Paris.

The outcome of the match was never in doubt, but with every good shot, Opti pumped his fists and celebrated around the court. "It was a match without regrets. I played quite well and put enough pressure on Shi Yuqi at certain moments. I am satisfied with my performance, and these experiences are invaluable."

Opti may have encountered the "physique" of top seeds. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, when he was only 19 years old, Opti participated in the Olympics for the first time and was drawn into the same group as the then top seed and Malaysian star Lee Chong Wei. In their match, Lee Chong Wei only allowed Opti to score a total of 5 points in two sets. And Opti said that this match, where he only scored 5 points, is the most important memory of his life.

At the opening ceremony on the evening of the 26th, Opti stood at the bow of a small boat, rowing across the River Seine amidst the cheers of spectators on both sides. "Many badminton players didn't attend the opening ceremony because of the matches the next day. I also hesitated for a long time, but in the end, choosing to go was really worth it. I saw LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the rain."

Opti said that Paris is a city he has always dreamed of, and participating in the Olympics here and once again facing the top seed has become an unforgettable moment in his life, just like his trip to Rio.