Darence Chan, the voluble 20-year-old badminton fan in the news for receiving death threats, has been travelling to badminton tournaments in Europe for two years now.

The Super 750 French Open in Rennes that sparked the controversy, happens to be his most pricey trip.

“It was a 12-hour journey from Manchester with a transit at Charles de Gaulle airport, onwards to Rennes.”

That, plus, the tournament ticket price.

Darence, studying journalism at the Lancaster University, confirmed news reports of him receiving death threats.

It seems that certain badminton fans blamed his usual antics for distracting Ng Tze Yong.

The threatening remarks were made on his YouTube, Watchalongs channel, as well as on his other social media platforms, following the defeat of Tze Yong, a rising Malaysian badminton star to China’s Li Shi Feng, last week .

Tze Yong, 23, and no 15 in world rankings, lost 17 – 21, 12 – 21 to Shi Feng. Darence routinely provides Live coverage, on Watchalongs, of badminton matches featuring Malaysian stars.

There will be no Live coverage on Watchalongs whenever he turns up at the badminton tournaments as a high visibility fan.

With the Malaysian flag draped around his shoulders, the young man would go chanting the Saya Anak Malaysia, among others.

Darence is also known to use air horns. The cameras of Live matches have in the past featured him.

To cite one example, during a Lee Zii Jia vs Kento Nishimoto match on March 17, Gillian Clark who was providing Live commentary said: “He is loving it…”

Darence was that instance making another appearance on television as a conspicuous fan.

In previous chats and video calls with ApaKhabar, Darence demonstrated a keen awareness, matching that of a pundit.

In whatsApp chats with ApaKhabar, Monday, Nov 1, Darence said he had received threats in the past, but not in this magnitude.

“It’s very tiring to have notifications binging every minute….hate comments.”

Darence has apologised to Tze Yong on Instagram, telling the badminton star that “I hope there can be peace at both ends as a lot of fans are slandering and giving me death threats.”

Tze Yong has been pleasant, telling Darence : “I understand you as a fan hope that we can win the match ..”.

ApaKhabar discerned from the Tze Yong note to Darence that focus was understandably a top priority for the badminton star.

Are those chants of yours truly distracting? Responding to this ApaKhabar question, Darence said: “That can be interpreted in different ways.”

Darence spoke of the distinctive nature of reactions by sport fans. “Different people would have different methods of cheering, supporting.”

Darence is not terribly sure about the appropriateness of resuming Watchalongs rightaway, fearing further unpleasant comments.

In any case, he is planning to issue a formal statement of apology pretty soon.