“Us vs Them”: Understanding Chinese Badminton Sportsmen's Racial Consciousness in International Competitions

Current racial discourses surrounding Chinese athletes signify that they not only lack the physical tools to succeed but also are socialized with cultural values that demonstrate their perceived negativity and resistance towards sport and physical culture. However, in today's society where increasing Chinese athletes are commended for their triumphs and excellence in international sporting arenas, such a racialized understanding demonstrates a mismatch to the Chinese athletes’ holistic viewpoints. Based on interview data collected from n = 24 male provincial professional and university badminton athletes from China, I articulate that Chinese sportsmen are seen to identify strictly with collective Sinicized ideals, termed as “Chineseness,” in constructing their racial consciousness, which arises from their physical and cultural inter-group differences and/or intra-group similarities.