Hong Kong’s rising badminton star, Happy Lo Sin-yan, is gearing up for her Olympic debut this month while tackling a persistent challenge: sleep troubles before major matches.
In the past year, Lo has embarked on numerous taxing journeys for various competitions, revitalizing her career that had been sidelined by the pandemic. Climbing from around 250th to 44th in the world rankings, she is the youngest member of Hong Kong’s Olympic badminton squad.
Despite her junior status, Lo feels the weight of expectations she places on herself in Paris, where she is set to compete. However, she remains more excited than nervous, even with the incentive of a HK$1.25 million (US$192,000) gold medal prize offered by Hong Kong badminton authorities.
Recognizing the impact of sleep on her performance, Lo has sought help from a sleep expert to overcome her pre-competition insomnia. She has been experimenting with meditation, breathing techniques, and soothing music to calm her mind before matches, though she admits that sometimes sleep remains elusive.
Acknowledging the natural variability of sleep patterns, sports sleep expert Anna West suggests that accepting occasional poor sleep can actually improve overall sleep quality by reducing anxiety.
As Lo envisions her upcoming Olympic experience in Paris, she reflects on her journey in badminton, which began at the age of nine under the guidance of John Leung at Hong Kong Football Club. Despite the challenges of frequent travel and the mental toll it takes, she remains focused on performing her best on every point, driven primarily by her own high expectations.
Lo’s recent successes, including finals appearances and tournament wins, underscore her determination and rapid rise in the sport, culminating in her eagerly anticipated debut on the Olympic stage.
