The Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) 2024 shuttled up in Ningbo from April 9th to 14th. This tournament serves as the final qualifier for Asian players seeking spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with top-tier Asian athletes vying for ranking points.
4月9日至4月14日，亚洲羽毛球锦标赛在宁波开赛。作为亚洲羽毛球运动员们争夺2024年巴黎奥运会资格的最后一站积分赛，亚洲顶尖水平选手齐聚甬城，角逐通往巴黎的最后门票。
This edition of the BAC offers “Super 1000” level points and prizes, and marks the highest-level badminton tournament in Asia. Teams from various Asian countries have sent their heavy hitters, including China’s WANG Chang, LIANG Wei Keng, Malaysia’s LEE Zii Jia, South Korea’s AN Se Young, to compete in Ningbo, offering an action-packed thriller. And every participant scrambles to perform well and catch more scores.
亚洲羽毛球锦标赛是亚洲地区最高级别的羽毛球赛事，积分对标世界巡回赛顶级赛事“超级1000”。亚洲各国羽毛球队尽遣主力来甬参赛， 中国的王昶、梁伟铿，马来西亚的李梓嘉，韩国的安洗莹等选手都在球场上大放异彩。每位选手都希望在宁波取得好成绩，赢得更多积分。
“This edition of the Asian Championships holds extraordinary significance as the Badminton Asia Confederation has, for the first time, chosen Ningbo as the host city,” remarked the Confederation President KIM Joong Soo in his congratulatory message. “For the athletes, this is a crucial battle to secure high-ranking points, not only determining their Olympic qualification but also their seeding.”
“本届亚锦赛意义非凡，因为亚洲羽毛球联合会首次将这一重磅赛事落户宁波。”亚洲羽毛球联合会（以下简称“亚羽联”）主席金重洙在本次赛事的贺词中表示，“对于选手们来说，这是确保高排名积分的关键一战，不仅关乎他们的奥运参赛资格，也将决定他们的参赛排位。”
Ningbo’s facilities are both professional and “new”, which have garnered positive feedback from the athletes regarding event services and venue amenities. The tournament venue features blue lighting, complementing this city’s coastal theme. Additionally, the event incorporates elements of Ningbo's urban culture, such as the entrance for athletes that is designed to resemble an open book, showcasing Ningbo’s emphasis on both its rich culture and modern vibrancy. Chinese female player HE Bing Jiao commented on the beauty of the venue and the advanced equipment, especially noting the abundance of warm-up areas and readily available fitness facilities.
宁波的比赛设施不仅专业，而且很“新”，从运动员的反馈来看，他们对这次的赛事服务、场馆设施也都十分满意。本次赛事，灯光基本以蓝色为主基调，非常契合滨海城市的主题。同时，在内容上也融入了宁波的城市元素，比如运动员入场通道以一本打开的书本为造型，既展现了宁波的深厚历史底蕴，又凸显了现代体育的活力与激情。谈到本届比赛的场馆，中国选手何冰娇表示，赛场特别漂亮，设备也很先进，尤其是热身场地非常多，“在这里不用担心没有场地进行练习，而且旁边还有健身房。”
Badminton fans from other cities attending the matches are not in the minority. Ms. MENG from Shanghai, along with several friends, followed every game from April 9th to 14th. “My favorite player is Ningbo’s WANG Chang. His playing style is elegant and swift, and he delivers brilliant performances on the court. I hope WANG Chang can keep up the good work,” said Ms. MENG.
有不少外地羽毛球粉丝到现场观赛。来自上海的孟女士和几位朋友从4月9日一直看到4月14日，不错过每天的比赛。“我最喜欢宁波运动员王昶，他的球风非常飘逸，球场上的表现也十分精彩，希望王昶继续加油。”孟女士说。
WANG also serves as an ambassador for this edition of the Championships. Upon arriving in Ningbo, he began to his promotional duties and posed for photos on LED screens. “I’m thrilled to represent the Championships as an ambassador,” said this Ningbo-born player. And it evoked memories of his childhood as he passed by his old school in Ningbo.
本届亚锦赛，王昶还有一个身份是形象大使。王昶在落地宁波后一直寻找自己的立牌，还在LED大屏上与自己合了影。“我非常兴奋，以形象大使的身份来代表亚锦赛。”王昶说，回到宁波路过了他原来的学校，勾起了他儿时的回忆。
This successful event, a collaboration between the Chinese Badminton Association, BAC, and the city of Ningbo, is a badminton extravaganza with distinct Ningbo flair, setting a model for Asian badminton games. In the interviews, KIM Joong Soo, President of the Badminton Asia Confederation, and CHOOI Weng Sheng, Chief Operating Officer of the Confederation, lauded the partnership between Ningbo and the Championships, calling it “an excellent match.” CHOOI remarked that while this is Ningbo’s first time hosting the BAC, it has managed to deliver a remarkable event.
本次赛事在中国羽协、亚羽联和宁波市的共同努力下圆满完成，这是一场具有宁波特色、彰显亚洲风采的羽毛球盛会，助力了亚洲羽毛球运动的发展。“这绝对是一次正确的选择！” 金重洙和亚羽联首席运营官崔永声在采访中对于宁波和亚锦赛的牵手赞不绝口。崔永声表示，宁波虽是第一次举办羽毛球亚锦赛，但却办出了特色，办出了亮点。
By Dai Bin, Gong Xuqi, Tang Yan
Translators:
Qiu Jilin (intern), Pan Wenjie
Proofreaders:
Yao Zhanhong, Huang Dawang,
Jason Mowbray