Asian badminton champion Chau Hoi Wah told the Badminton World Federation that she had mixed feelings on her decision to retire from the sport.

The 34-year-old handed in her retirement plan form on June 5, which was also her birthday.

"It feels complicated," she admitted, revealing that she was flooded by mixed emotions at that moment.

"I knew I would retire one day, and I'd planned it too, I'd talked it over with my family and coaches, but when it came to the time that I handed the form, it was quite touching. Happy, sad... not sad that I'm retiring, but that time flies. I'm happy with my achievements. Thankfully, I'm retiring without regret."

Chau and her partner Lee Chun Hei became the first pair from Hong Kong of China to win the mixed doubles gold at the Asia Championships in 2014, before getting their career-high world ranking of No. 6 that year. Then the duo took bronze at the World Championships in Glasgow in 2017.

"It was great to win a World Championships medal. The World Championships is different from the Superseries or any other tournament. It happens once a year. It's not about money; we fight for glory."

"It was late for me already. But it shows that if you hang in there, things happen. I didn't give up from day one until now. So it was very memorable," she added.

Having signed up as coach with Mandarin Badminton Club in Toronto, Canada, Chau was happy to continue contributing to badminton after 15 years as a professional player.

"I'm very excited, and nervous as well," Chau said, looking forward to start a new chapter in her life. 

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