Spain’s Carolina Marin has made a triumphant return to the Olympic badminton stage, reaching the semifinals at the Paris 2024 Games. The 2016 women’s singles champion overcame a grueling journey back from a serious knee injury that sidelined her for the Tokyo Olympics.
Marin, a hot favorite for gold in Tokyo, suffered a cruciate ligament tear just months before the tournament. This setback forced her to miss the Games and required a year of rehabilitation. Adding to her challenges, Marin had previously ruptured the ligament in her other knee in 2019, an injury that kept her sidelined for eight months.
Despite these obstacles, Marin’s dedication and perseverance have brought her back to the Olympic spotlight. She defeated Japan’s Aya Ohori 21-13, 21-14 in the quarterfinals at La Chapelle Arena, showcasing her dominance and resilience. This victory sets up a semifinal clash with China’s He Bingjiao.
Marin expressed her immense pride in achieving this milestone after such a challenging period. “Three years ago, I couldn’t think that I would reach a semifinal here in Paris,” she shared. “The journey has been a long way but I am here and I feel really proud of myself.”
Another standout performance came from South Korea’s World No. 1 An Se-young, who secured her place in the semifinals with a hard-fought victory over Japan’s two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. An’s next opponent will be Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who defeated Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals.
China’s He Bingjiao, the sixth seed, pulled off a stunning upset in the quarterfinals, defeating defending Olympic champion Chen Yufei 21-16, 21-17. He Bingjiao, known for her calm demeanor, stated, “I beat an Olympic champion today and I’m facing another one tomorrow. I hope tomorrow will be a good match for both of us.” Her semifinal match against Marin promises to be an intense and exciting encounter.
