Olympic legacy and badminton gun Angela Yu received a massive send-off last week before she flew to Paris to continue a family tradition.
Both her parents, who are the owners of Sky Badminton in Logan Central, have competed in previous Olympic Games.
Her mother, Rosie Tang, won bronze for China at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and bronze for Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Her father, Yu Qi, played badminton for China before moving to Australia to coach the national team.
Dozens of young players and their families wished Angela Yu good luck with cards, gifts and flowers last week.
She was also presented with a cake in the shape of a badminton court.
“I hope seeing me compete in Paris will inspire young kids in Logan to chase their Olympic dreams in 2032,” Ms Yu said
Ms Yu has described her mum as her sporting hero.
“I started playing badminton under the influence of my parents as they once were elite badminton athletes and loved the sport,” she said.
Now she is debuting at her first Olympics, a feat she said was a “lifelong dream”.
Ms Yu and her younger brother Jack competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
Last year she teamed up with Setyana Mapasa in women’s doubles and won three international tournaments in a row.
The duo is now ranked 11 in world and won gold at the Oceania Championships in Geelong earlier this year.
In Paris, Ms Duo will be joined by Ms Mapasa and Tiffany Ho.
Badminton Australia CEO Tjitte Weistra said he was “immensely proud” of the three athletes who endured a “gruelling” year-long qualifying process.
“The dedication and sacrifices these athletes have made, not only over the past year but throughout their entire careers starting from a young age, is truly remarkable,” he said.
“Earning a ticket to Paris 2024 serves as the ultimate validation of their hard work and commitment.
“Behind these three exceptional women exists an incredible support network comprising of family, friends, coaches and support services.
“Their collective dedication and encouragement have played an integral role in the success of our athletes.
“We can’t wait to see our athletes shine on the world stage – their achievements exemplify the spirit of Australian sport and serve as inspiration to aspiring athletes nationwide.”
