There’s no denying that sporting rivalries, at occasions, go a small out of hand. We have seen opponents battling it out, even physically, specifically on football fields. Sledging is fairly popular in cricket. But for just about every unpalatable moment on the field, there are far much better and far more emotional moments that leave you overwhelmed and wanting to watch the sport even more. There have currently been very a couple of such situations in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Let’s speak about the one we witnessed last evening.
After the conclusion of the men’s singles badminton final, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen exchanged his shirt with China’s Chen Long as a mark of respect for his opponent. Mr Axelsen bagged the gold soon after defeating Mr Long, who claimed the title in Rio back in 2016.
The official account of Olympics 2020 has shared the wonderful moment on Twitter. “During the men’s singles badminton final last night, Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark traded shirts with silver medallist Chen Long of China as a symbol of respect to his opponent,” the tweet study. It then asked the viewers to take a look at the tweet beneath to know the origins of this tradition in badminton.
During the men’s singles badminton final last evening, Olympic champion @ViktorAxelsen of Denmark traded shirts with silver medallist Chen Long of China as a symbol of respect to his opponent. ❤️????
View the thread beneath to see exactly where this wonderful tradition began!@bwfmediapic.twitter.com/hQJ8XfObbc
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 3, 2021
This tradition at the Olympics started 5 years ago when Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei and the double Olympic champion from China, Lin Din, swapped their shirts in the men’s singles semi-final at Rio. After the game, the two players embraced each and every other and exchanged their jerseys. “Take a look at the beginning of the tradition between legendary Malaysian Badminton player Lee Chong Wei, and double Olympic champion from China, Lin Dan,” study the tweet from the official deal with of Olympics 2020.
Take a look at the starting of the tradition among legendary #MAS Badminton player Lee Chong Wei, and double Olympic champion from #CHN, Lin Dan. pic.twitter.com/B1SnivbvJP
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 3, 2021
Fans and supporters of each players cherished the moment.
“This was amazing to see. Maybe there is hope for the human race after all,” wrote a user.
This was incredible to see ???? Maybe there is hope for human race soon after all… ????
— Cookie & Popcorn ???? (@CookieXPopcorn) August 3, 2021
Another user stated, “This is the real Olympics spirit, they are competitors, but they respect each other, I’ve been touched.”
This is the actual Olympics spirit, they are competiter, but they respect each and every other, I’ve been touched.
— Bella Zhang ???????? (@BellaZh20426444) August 3, 2021
Here are a couple of more reactions:
The beauty of the sports ♥️
— Billy (@iamBilly03) August 3, 2021
Sportmanship ????????????
— Fratezo (@Fratezovs) August 3, 2021
I do not believe we’ll ever see a more iconic and fierce rivalry among Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei.
— nowherefarhan ???? (@nowherefarhan) August 3, 2021
Super Dan and legendary Lee Chong Wei. The two most iconic rival in modern day badminton era
— zhi nan (@_passby) August 3, 2021
Considered two of the most brutal smashers in the world, Mr Axelsen and Mr Long fought it out for practically an hour, involving flash shots and rallies. “He told me that I deserved it, and my performance here has been great. And I said ‘Thank you so much and that he has been a big inspiration to me,” Mr Axelsen stated soon after the match.