Monks from the temple cheer for their team during a national badminton tournament. Li Zhong / For China Daily

Many of China's renowned badminton players have tutored the team, such as Chen Gang, a formal national team player who now coaches the national team of South Korea.

Li Xiang, secretary-general of the Hangzhou Badminton Association, is currently the team's coach.

"They called and earnestly invited me to tutor them," Li says. "They are passionate about the sport and very talented."

His daughter, Li-Wang Jingzi, became the partner of Yan Kong in the mixed doubles competition, as the team lacked a female player. "I feel they are easygoing and do not care much about success or failure," says the sophomore of Zhejiang University.