Speculation had been building for weeks around China’s national badminton team. Many expected Chen Long to step up as the new men’s singles head coach. However, the Chinese Badminton Association appears to have quietly ended the talk. A recently published coaching list tells a very different story.
Chen Long Rumour Meets an Official Answer
The association posted its public notice on coaching staff for the badminton event at the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games. According to that document, Sun Jun remains the men’s singles head coach. As a result, the online claim that Chen Long would replace him no longer holds up.
Officials never issued a direct denial. Instead, the coaching list did the talking. In effect, the association confirmed Sun Jun stays in charge without addressing the gossip head on.
So where did the rumour come from? Much of it traced back to self-media accounts chasing clicks. Meanwhile, a disappointing season for the men’s singles group added fuel to the fire.
The Season Behind the Pressure on Sun Jun
This year, stars like Shi Yuqi, Li Shifeng and Weng Hongyang have struggled to land the biggest World Tour titles. Naturally, the head coach drew scrutiny whenever results dipped.
Still, the wider picture looks far kinder to Sun Jun. Under his watch, Shi Yuqi climbed to world number one and lifted the 2026 Asian Championships crown. Furthermore, China claimed the 2026 Thomas Cup. His players also collected trophies at the All England Open and World Tour Finals.
Chen Long, meanwhile, continues to develop China’s junior talent. That role kept his name in circulation whenever coaching debates flared up.
For now, though, the men’s singles reins stay with Sun Jun. Yet the pressure has not vanished. With the Nagoya Asian Games looming, he faces arguably the toughest test of his tenure.
