National Badminton Championships kick off in Ningbo

The 2023 National Badminton Championships held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province feature nearly 550 athletes from around the country. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The 2023 National Badminton Championships, one of China's most prestigious badminton competitions, kicked off in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Aug 6.

The competition, which is a major qualifier for badminton players looking to join the national team, attracts nearly 550 athletes from 25 municipalities and provinces around the country. The championships are slated to run until Aug 13, during which 142 matches of five events will be held at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center. 

Zhou Xinyu, a member of the Zhejiang team, is from Ningbo and won his first men's single match of the championships on Aug 6.

"It's the most important competition for me in 2023. I'll do my best to win each match," said Zhou. "For me, it's a familiar competition held in my hometown. Both the venue and competition services are great.”

The competition is also an exciting time for badminton enthusiasts in the city.

Zhang Wei, a high school student, got up at 5 am to get to the competition on time.

"It took me two hours cycling from home to get to the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center. But it's worth it. I love sports, whether it's cycling or badminton," said Zhang.