When Pablo Abian plays Viren Nettasinghe in his Group G match at Paris 2024, the contrast in experience will be striking. His opponent, a fresh-faced 21-year-old, was barely five when Abian made his Olympic Games debut at Beijing 2008.

A similar contrast was evident in fellow-veteran Kevin Cordon’s opening Group L match against Lakshya Sen. The Guatemalan’s opponent was seven when Cordon made his own Olympic debut, also at Beijing 2008.

Abian and Cordon are grizzled veterans of the Olympics – Paris 2024 marks their fifth, which is a statement on their longevity in a sport that places extreme demands on physical and mental condition.

“Of course I’m proud of being at my fifth Olympics,” said Cordon, crestfallen at having missed an opportunity to take a game off Sen in his opening match. “To be here is already a big honour.”

What has kept him going for so long?

“I love badminton, that’s the main reason. I just like to play. And I like to represent my country as a professional athlete.

“It’s one of the best feelings to come back – you train for four years, and this is the big achievement, to be here, and that’s why I’m happy and try to enjoy myself.”

Through four previous Olympics, both Cordon and Abian have been feisty competitors. Abian has three wins from seven matches; Cordon’s exploits are even more impressive – he made the Round of 16 in London 2012 (beating 15th seed Rajiv Ouseph); had an injury-afflicted campaign at Rio 2016, but had the world marvel at his performance in Tokyo 2020 when he blazed through to a bronze medal playoff.

Speaking at a press conference a few days before the start of competition in Paris, Abian talked of how he approached the event with a fresh outlook: “The years go by, and luckily I can be at the Olympic Games again. This will be my fifth appearance, but I approach it like it is the first one. I’m motivated. We have prepared really well to be here in the best possible shape. The goal is to qualify from the group stage.”

As Pablo Abian 🇪🇸 and Kevin Cordon 🇬🇹 prepare for a record-equalling fifth #Olympics at #Paris2024, we #throwback to their memorable contest at the 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ BWF World Championships in Wembley Arena, London.#badminton pic.twitter.com/U7naJ5cK0i

— BWF (@bwfmedia) July 26, 2024

Like Cordon, who talked about the importance of the daily grind, Abian pegged his longevity in the sport to daily routines.

“It’s really important to keep the same desire of wanting to train and improving every day, to keep the same willingness to compete to improve yourself. The Olympic Games are the best thing an athlete can aim for, and that gives extra motivation. Facing the daily double training sessions is the toughest part many times, and then come the tournaments. But the Olympic Games are above everything, and that gives you extra motivation during your low days.”