Huang Yaqiong (right), badminton world champion in 2019. [Photo/qz123.com]

Huang Yaqiong was born in 1994 in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. Her father, Huang Ruizhong, has been playing badminton for a long time, which played a key role in her career decision.

In 2002, at the age of eight, Huang began to receive badminton training with Cao Ji, a retired athlete from the Zhejiang provincial team. Cao, her first coach, commented that "She is flexible, quick to learn, and very self-conscious. She always arrives early and stays late for practice". 

In 2004, Huang made rapid progress and was recommended by Cao for a sports career at the Zhejiang Provincial Sports School.

Since winning the mixed team gold medal at the Asian Badminton Championships in 2011, Huang has successively won a number of titles as female badminton champion.  

In March 2019, Huang and her partner Zheng Siwei became champions in the mixed doubles at the All England Open, setting a new world record with more than 110,000 points.