Esther Tseng

In February of 2024, badminton player Chou Tien-chen announced that in early 2023 he had been diagnosed with early-stage colon cancer. After under­going surgery, he began competing in numerous events and not only qualified for the Olympics, but came to understand, in the course of his training, how improved nerve conduction could bring back his “feel” for the game. Chou, called “Little Tien” by badminton fans, says: “I’m an athlete who performs best when the chips are down. The greater the obstacles, the stronger I get.”