Cancer survivor, migrant rights advocate and crowd favourite: Badminton's gentle giant Chou Tien Chen

Indian Express

15-06-2025

Another tournament, the Super 1000 Indonesia Open this time, another finals loss for Taiwanese Chou Tien Chen, losing to Danish Anders Antonsen. The 35-year-old immortal of badminton even led 20-17 in the first set. But despite having pushed aside World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn earlier, Tien Chen could not go the distance.
The Indonesians at Istora – perhaps the noisiest per square metre grouping of humans yelling like crazy for mere sport – however, were undaunted. Istora adores its badminton magicians like Taufik Hidayat and Kidambi Srikanth of course. It can also get extremely intimidating if a Malaysian is up against one of their Indonesians with brutal war cries, so it's not strictly a sporting crowd at all times. But for Chou Tien Chen, there is immense, everlasting love. Antonsen would've wondered for a moment where he was, because the E-a, E-a, E-a that forms an acoustic wall of support for Tien Chen, can mess with ear drums. Their adoration for the Taiwanese is unquestionable — win or lose.
For Tien Chen himself, the story always restarts, the page turns, after every loss. Especially after defeats.
He is a cancer survivor. His game and shuttle control are extremely solid. You literally can't be sure that you have beaten him till you actually have beaten him. The tenacity is off the charts, and no top-10 player, much less top-25, likes to come up against him. He has an extremely chirpy trainer-psychologist-coach-cheerleader in Miss Gao Min Shan, a smiling lady who lends not just the lead vocals, but also a jumpy blurry wave of emotion that distracts opponents. 'Annoys' is a word used often. But she has helped him with spiritual mentoring and regular roles of a physio, trainer as he came out of cancer and hit the courts, and he continues to look to her as a support system.
Istora + Miss Gao can be a formidable aural challenge for any opponent. But Tien Chen, called Little Day despite his considerable achievements and 6-foot-plus frame, has another army of supporters whose loyalty he has earned these last five years – poor Indonesian women migrant workers in Taiwan, and their families back home.
Last December, Tien Chen put out a lengthy post for a cause that is close to his heart: the well-being of migrant workers from South East Asia — Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines — who eke out a living after travelling to Taiwan.
Chou Tien Chen is back in his happy place at the Istora. 🫶#BWFWorldTour #IndonesiaOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/kszm2oa50S
— BWF (@bwfmedia) June 7, 2025
In a world that is literally exploding with hate, suspicion and absolute scorn for all manners of migrants, the Taiwanese had struck a rare note of empathy.
Last December, he followed it with practical action as he urged his fanbase to extend warmth and put donations at the convenience stores, where Indonesian women identifiable in headscarves and rattled eyes quietly went about their labour.
Tien Chen is a practising Christian, the migrants belong to various religions, but the shuttler had at some point noticed their reserve and struggles, and was rallying support for them. Negative sentiment and prejudicial stereotypes are never far behind when it concerns migrants and a section of the media's portrayal of them in Taiwan had the same bent, but Tien Chen was moved by their plight after meeting Kaixiang Chen, a fellow Taiwanese entrepreneur who started a non-profit '1-40' for migrants from the Philippines.
Tien Chen's post read: 'Always wanted to say Thankyou to the migrants who came to Taiwan to work. Just yesterday at the award ceremony of Taiwan's true hero, I met Kaixiang, the winner of one-forty, very grateful he has done this. And it's been 10 years to do it,' it said.
'Now finally I have the opportunity to help migrant workers with practical action. These friends from South East Asia are already indispensable helpers in Taiwan. I hope you can support the 'family friendly workers' program. Put change at the convenience store or donate to the family app,' he would write.
Having gone through cancer treatment himself and receiving the best possible medical help given he is Taiwan's ace athlete, a World Championship medallist and former World No. 2, Tien Chen was also closely privy to subjects like access to medical care.
Tien Chen, a much-loved figure in Taiwan, regularly appears in de-discrimination awareness pitches, and advertisements, for AIDS patients, though it was at the peak of Covid when he first crossed paths with migrant issues. In November 2020, he urged kindness towards poor Indonesian migrants who were infected by the coronavirus and couldn't travel back. Subtly first and then directly he urged fellow Taiwanese to treat them humanely.
Anders Antonsen and Chou Tien Chen go toe-to-toe for crowning glory.#BWFWorldTour #IndonesiaOpen2025 pic.twitter.com/kT3jYkxmFX
— BWF (@bwfmedia) June 8, 2025
His post back then read, 'I believe that no one willingly wants to get infected. Overseas migrant workers are mostly hardworking people at the bottom of the society, and there are insufficient resources for health, education.'
An interaction with Dr Jiang Jianxin, then Taiwanese head of the infectious disease department, who told him to 'emphasise on treatment of infected, not attack on infected,' had crystallized his thoughts. Using his badminton fame and cred, he would directly address the Indonesian migrants who were fearful of being stuck away from home while the infection razed, by saying, 'Welcome to Taiwan, you are not alone. Don't worry about Covid, Taiwan medical team will take care of you. You will be ok.'
It was a short note, but there was reassurance extended to the meekest of those in Taiwanese society, at a frightful point in time. And it came from a figure that Indonesians, crazy about badminton wherever they went, were familiar with.
Tien Chen's own bounceback from cancer is inspiring enough. But each time he gets onto the badminton court and puts in one of his epic fights, you know giving up hasn't quite entered his mindspace. His come-from-behind wins are legendary – once at the Arctic Open against Jonatan Christie from the brink. And another at World Championships where he was 11-18 down in the decider. Istora dotes on Jojo Christie, but they have a special affection for Tien Chen.
The first time they met in Indonesia, Tien Chen twice trailed Kunlavut 15-18 but went on to win the match. Last week, he once again toppled the now World No. 1 and Istora Arena celebrated like they do their own. For his sustained support of the poorest Indonesians who travel to his country as migrants, he might just be one of their own. He has earned the coveted Istora decibel.