Sibling duos draw attention in the badminton doubles competition at the Paris Olympics.
PARIS, July 30, (Xinhua) -- The excitement was palpable as Kerry Xu, a first-time Olympian in the U.S. women's badminton doubles team, stepped onto the court at the Paris Olympics.
"With the music and all the hype, I was on the verge of tears," she recalled, describing the moment that she realized her Olympic dream alongside her best friend and twin sister, Annie Xu.
Kerry and Annie, both 24, have been inseparable since they started playing badminton at the age of eight. Their partnership has earned them multiple U.S. National titles and impressive international performances.
"We are always on the same wavelength," Annie noted, highlighting their unique synergy on the court. "Whether we're excited or nervous, we feed off each other's energy."
The Paris Olympics also showcased other sibling duos in the badminton doubles event, including France's Toma Junior Popov and his younger brother, Christo Popov.
Competing at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, the Popov brothers, with Toma Junior's height and strength complementing Christo's left-handed finesse, demonstrated their deep family bond and shared passion for the sport.
The Popov brothers are not only teammates in doubles but also competitors in singles, with Toma Junior securing France's sole spot in the men's singles event.
"Playing doubles with my brother is an unforgettable experience," Christo said, emphasizing the unique dynamic of their partnership.
In their final group tournament on Tuesday, the Xu sisters faced off against Bulgaria's Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva, another sister pair known for their strong connection on the court.
Despite their close relationship, Stefani acknowledged that they sometimes have frictions, even during matches. However, the sisters always manage to reconnect and focus on their shared goals.
Gabriela shared her unexpected journey into badminton, which began after her initial refusal to try the sport. "I used to be a dancer," she laughed, recalling one day when she and their mom went to pick up Stefani from badminton and the coach asked her if she wanted to try badminton as well, to which she flatly refused. "And look where I am today, this was 23 years ago. So never say never."
The match between the Xu and the Stoeva sisters ended with the Bulgarian duo winning 21-18, 21-12, securing their place in the knockout stage.
Reflecting on the experience, Annie Xu commented on the unique feeling of playing against another pair of sisters. "We see each other as two peas in a pod, we felt that same sisterly dynamic on the court, they kind of reminds us of our own," she said. ■
