More than 10 years ago, the world of badminton experienced a sea change.

The reason was that the badminton competition at that time was generally too long, unattractive, and easy to cause aesthetic fatigue to the audience, so in order to shorten the game time and improve the spectacle of the sport, the then International Badminton Federation decided to innovate and made a series of major changes to the rules of the game, the most important of which was to cancel the service right scoring system for individual competitions, and replace it with scoring rules that are more acceptable and understandable, on par with small ball sports such as tennis and table tennis.

As soon as this rule was changed, it immediately set off a storm of change in the entire badminton world, especially the players to adapt to the faster pace of the game under the new rules, in today's very popular words, this is called "a generation of versions of a generation of gods" - the introduction of new rules, in the world has caused a huge impact on badminton players, the major rankings are facing the fate of reshuffling, some players follow the trend of the times, take advantage of the victory, ushered in the peak of their careers, However, some players suffered the setback of failure because they did not adapt to the competition under the new rules, and since then they have been slumped and gradually eliminated by the times......

Midsummer night, Tianhe Sports Center, inside the badminton stadium.

In the just-concluded National Games badminton men's singles final, Xu Muyang from the Guangdong Provincial Team fought at home, with a total score of 2:0, 21:15 in the first game, and 21:13 in the second game.

Commentator, Zhao Chunxue, a well-known domestic badminton commentator, did not hesitate to praise the game, describing this game as "opening a new era", because this is the first time that the International Badminton Federation has introduced new rules to be applied to large-scale events, in the tense schedule that lasted more than half a month, the top players of each provincial team have shown the spirit of active change, and continue to innovate in the style of play, no longer limited to the past to respond to the ever-changing four-way hanging style of play, this is the competitive attitude that an excellent sportsman should have!

But as the so-called few happy and a few worried, although Xu Muyang won the game with a big lead, it does not mean that his opponent is very weak, on the contrary, his opponent is the leading player from the Shandong team, Han Cang, the champion of the last National Games!

The name Han Cang is also a legend in the provincial team, the National Games and the Olympic Games, held every four years, from the last championship to this defeat before the defeat, Han Cang can be said to be the leader in the domestic provincial team level events, and has dominated this field for four years! As an old opponent, Xu Muyang has actually been suppressed by Han Cang for the past four years, until the most important men's singles final of the National Games, he rose strongly, fought a beautiful turnaround, and neatly ended the myth of Han Cang, winning full applause!

Some media reporters even said on the spot that Han Cang's defeat symbolizes the end of an era, and that badminton represented by him has become a thing of the past, with new rules and new atmosphere, and the players of the new era represented by Xu Muyang will be on the stage of history and create a new glory for China's badminton career in a new environment!

The whole audience was chanting Xu Muyang's name, his teammates and coaches rushed into the arena, excitedly hugging the new champion, and sports reporters also rushed forward to interview, at this moment, Xu Muyang became the only focus in Tianhe Gymnasium, no one noticed that on the other side of the field, Han Cang was silently packing his luggage, putting the racket back in the bag, tightening the zipper, and then lifting it up, turning around and leaving the arena that once belonged to him.

Compared with the star-studded arena, Han Cang's back when he left alone couldn't help but look sad, but this is competitive sports, the winner is king, no one will pay attention to a loser, and it is still a loser who was easily shot down, not even tragic.

But there was a young female reporter present at the time, with her keen news instinct, she used the digital camera in her hand to capture the back of Han Cang's gloomy departure, which became a photo that was reprinted and quoted by countless media that night, and also won her the "Best Sports Moment" National Photography Award that year.

A failure, the achievement of countless people, but not himself, Han Cang left the arena and walked into the player's passage, the noise has gradually been left behind, in the dimly lit passage, a figure leaned against the wall, when Han Cang passed, the voice said:

"You can really do it, the whole team is guaranteed to come and go, and a runner-up in the National Games is guaranteed, hum......"

Han Cang suddenly stopped, looked sideways slightly, and glanced at the figure.

It was his junior brother Lin Huang who spoke, who only joined the team last year, but he was talented and strong, but he lacked some experience in the competition, and he will definitely be the target of the provincial team's key training in the future.

Han Cang: "What do you mean?" ”

Lin Huang snorted disdainfully: "What garlic are you pretending to be with me?" Why did I lose in the semi-finals, don't you know in your own heart? ”

Han Cang chuckled in his heart, his opponent in the semi-finals was his junior brother Lin Huang, and he won the game with difficulty by chasing 1 and 2 in three games, but this also broke all the doubts and rumors from the outside world, making people believe that he was still the king who ruled the arena, but he didn't expect that after only two days, he fell off the altar and tasted the taste of going from heaven to hell, and at this time, Lin Huang's sneering words seemed to reveal that the semi-finals actually had another hidden meaning, and Han Cang couldn't help but be suspicious.

But at this moment, they only heard someone not far away clearing their throats, Han Cang and Lin Huang turned their heads to look, although the light in the passage was not good, but the coach's round outline, they could still recognize it, only to see their coach Shen Yuntian come over, known as the "fat coach".

Coach Shen: "Lin Huang, you go..."

Shen Yuntian wanted to find an excuse to break Lin Huang away first, but he didn't expect that as soon as he opened his mouth, Lin Huang actually walked away directly, without even saying hello, and didn't take the coach in his eyes at all.

However, now, instead of scolding Lin Huang, the coach fell into silence and let his team members leave in a bad mood, leaving him and Han Cang standing there face to face, and the atmosphere seemed very awkward for a while.

Han Cang took a deep breath and said perfunctorily, "I'll go back to the locker room", and then left the coach and left.

But as soon as Han Cang walked into the locker room with his front foot, Shen Yuntian followed in with his back foot, standing there, silently watching Han Cang open the cabinet and pack up his clothes.

Coach Shen: "I'm going to receive the award later, what are you doing?" ”

Although the game was lost, in the eyes of the coach, Han Cang was also the runner-up, although it is often said that there is only one champion in competitive sports, but no matter how bad the runner-up is, it is also the runner-up, and it is also honored.

Han Cang: "You go and get it for me, anyway, this medal doesn't belong to me in the first place." ”

Coach Shen's face changed slightly: "Han Cang, what are you talking about?" ”

Han Cang put down the clothes in his hand, pondered for a moment, and asked, "What did Lin Huang mean by what he said just now?" What exactly did you discuss in the semi-finals? ”

Han Cang raised his head and glared at the coach.

Shen Yuntian couldn't help but be slightly stunned, he looked at this face full of resentment, and recalled the bits and pieces of the past ten years... Han Cang is not only his team member, but also a good seedling he discovered, he entered the sports school at the age of 8, and embarked on the road of professional sportsman step by step, until he became the most dazzling star in the provincial team! Over the years, Han Cang has won countless championships, large and small, and behind every glory is his Shen Yuntian's participation and dedication, it can be said that their master and apprentice have achieved each other, Shen Yuntian has become the head coach of the provincial team step by step, and there is also a credit to Han Cang, he treats Han Cang as his own flesh and blood, and he has seen the changes in his son over the years! But now...

Han Cang's face that was tortured by the competition almost made people forget that he was still a young man in his early twenties, as if he was burdened with a sea of blood and hatred, which made him look a kind of melancholy and vicissitudes beyond his age.

Coach Shen sighed deeply, and said helplessly: "When I return to the team, I will explain this matter to you slowly..."

Han Cang: "No need, I don't want to know now." For the sake of our master and apprentice for so many years, you can finally do me a favor. ”

Shen Yuntian's heart sank suddenly, "For the sake of the master and apprentice for many years", this is too heavy and too outward, he suddenly has a bad premonition, and this premonition will be fulfilled immediately:

"Help me write a letter of recommendation, I want to go to college." Han Cang said suddenly.

Shen Yuntian's expression froze, he was silent for two seconds, and then said, "Han Cang, just this time you lose, in fact, you don't need to ......"

But Han Cang hurriedly said: "Don't worry, I don't want a penny for the prize money of this competition, and I will pay for the journey back, so you can find a way to help me solve the matter of going to college, which I am grateful." ”

Immediately afterwards, Han Cang grabbed his clothes and backpack, stood up, faced his teacher, bowed respectfully, and then passed by Coach Shen and left the locker room.

Shen Yuntian was alone in the room for a long time, came back to his senses, and couldn't help but let out a sigh, and said with emotion: "You kid...... You're determined to dissociate yourself from me......"

As he spoke, this old man in his fifties had red circles under his eyes.

……

Walking out of the noisy venue, away from the glitz, Han Cang silently stepped on the way home alone, he couldn't remember when he last went home, walking under the dim street lamp, the night covered the sadness on his face, when there was silence and no one around, he finally couldn't hold back, and shed unwilling tears...

Han Cang cried as he walked, his lonely figure was like a wounded lone wolf, he gritted his teeth and cried, and silently told himself in his heart:

From now on, never touch a racket again!