Li Lingwei

Li Lingwei
李玲蔚
Personal information
CountryChina
Born (1964-01-04) January 4, 1964 (age 60)
Lishui, Zhejiang, China
HandednessRight
Highest ranking1
Current rankingNow retired
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  China
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Copenhagen Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1985 Calgary Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 1989 Jakarta Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 1987 Beijing Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 1987 Beijing Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Calgary Women's singles
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1983 Kuala Lumpur Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 1984 Jakarta Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1985 Jakarta Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1986 Jakarta Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1986 Jakarta Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 1987 Kuala Lumpur Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1987 Kuala Lumpur Women's doubles
Silver medal – second place 1981 Kuala Lumpur Women's singles
Silver medal – second place 1988 Kuala Lumpur Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Kuala Lumpur Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Jakarta Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Jakarta Women's doubles
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1982 New Delhi Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1982 New Delhi Women's team
Silver medal – second place 1986 Seoul Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 1986 Seoul Women's team
Uber Cup
Gold medal – first place 1984 Kuala Lumpur Women's team
Gold medal – first place 1986 Jakarta Women's team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Kuala Lumpur Women's team

Li Lingwei (Chinese: 李玲蔚, born January 4, 1964) is a Chinese badminton player of the 1980s. She was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee in 2012, and in December 2016, she was elected Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee. Li is heavily involved in improving women’s participation and fair representation in sport.

Early years

Born in Lishui, Zhejiang, China, on January 4, 1964, Li Lingwei weighed only 4 pounds (1.8 kg) at birth. Worried about Li’s health, her mother encouraged her to participate in non-contact sports such as badminton but Li indiscriminately loved sports. During her childhood, Li impressed everyone with sporting results such as finishing in first place in the 400-meter run. In 1975 the 11-year-old Li Lingwei was selected to the Zhejiang Provincial Badminton Team; five years later in 1980, she won the National Youth Badminton singles competition and the adult group's doubles championship. After that, she was selected to the national badminton team. In the national team she learned both physical and mental skills under coach Chen Fushou. She entered the 1981 Alba Quartz Badminton World Cup at 17 years of age, reaching her first international final.

Career

Athletic career

A brilliant all-around player whose court coverage and net play were particularly impressive, she maintained a narrow won/lost edge on her teammate, rival, and sometimes doubles partner Han Aiping. They dominated international women's badminton during most of the 1980s, each winning the then biennial IBF World Championships (now known as BWF World Championships) twice, and winning the IBF World doubles, together, in 1985. They also led Chinese teams that perennially won the biennial Uber Cup (women's world team) competitions. Li won the singles crown at the IBF World Championships in 1983 and 1989. She won Silver at the 1987 World Championships and a Bronze medal at the 1985 World Championships. Li won over 40 open international titles around the world. Besides the three World Championship gold medals her major results included four gold medals in the World Grand Prix Finals, two All England Singles titles, and one All England Women’s Doubles title. Li was also part of the pioneer team which won the first Uber Cup for China in 1984. From 1984 to 1987 Li won four consecutive crowns at the Badminton World Cups in the women's singles event plus three titles in the women's doubles event in 1983, 1986 and 1987.

She retired in 1989, and was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1998.

Coaching career

After retiring in 1989, Li entered the University of Hangzhou to transfer her skills from playing to coaching. In 1991 Li Ling Wei returned to China's national badminton team, serving as assistant coach of the national team and, starting in December 1994, as head coach of the women's team. She coached the Chinese women's badminton team that won the 1998 Uber Cup Championship. Over the course of her coaching career, Li cultivated top players such as Ye Zhaoying, Gong Zhichao, Gong Ruina and Dai Yun to follow in her footsteps.

Administrative career

Li is a strong advocate of women’s rights and has been heavily involved in improving women’s participation and fair representation in world sports bodies such as the BWF and the IOC. Li has stated that, “as women, we have to work harder because we have so many roles to play – mother, daughter or wife – so most of us are in a very challenging situation. We have to work harder than men, otherwise we can’t achieve our goals.” She believed that in comparison to other sports, “badminton is achieving a lot of positive goals, in women’s participation for example, and with equal prize money. And it is the same with participation at events." She became the Vice-Chair of the Women’s Commission of the BWF in 2009. Li has also been serving as the Deputy Chair of the International Relations Commission of the BWF. Despite being heavily involved with multiple associations, Li still found the time to work as the Deputy Director in the International Relations Department for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) from 2003 to 2008.

On May 12, 2002, when she was Chinese Badminton Association Vice-President, Li was elected as IBF member of Council, becoming one of only three women in the council. During her tenure she was also admitted to a doctoral degree at Beijing Sport University, specializing in sociology. In 2003 Li was elected as a member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and became the only member of the CPPCC National Committee to have been a badminton player. In the same year she was transferred to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee's Sports Department as a second-level project expert, and then transferred to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee's International Liaison Department. After the 2012 Beijing Olympic Games she was promoted to the deputy director of the China National Sports General Administration Table Tennis Badminton Management Center, and returned to the Chinese badminton team again after 10 years. In December 2010 Li became the deputy director of the Network Management Center of the State Sports General Administration of China, replacing the retired Gao Shenyang.

Li never competed in the Olympics because badminton did not become an Olympic sport until 1992. However, she was chosen as one of the five retired athletes to carry the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In July 2012, she was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee, receiving 83 votes out of 94. IOC president Jacques Rogge presented her with an "IOC gold medal".

In March 2015 Li served as the director of the tennis sports management center and secretary of the party committee, from the official to the main hall level. On December 28, 2016, Li was elected as vice chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee in the Plenary Session of this organisation.

Achievements

World Championships

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1989 Senayan Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia China Huang Hua 11–6, 12–9 Gold Gold
1987 Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China China Han Aiping 12–10, 4–11, 7–11 Silver Silver
1985 Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada China Wu Jianqiu 7–11, 9–12 Bronze Bronze
1983 Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark China Han Aiping 11–8, 6–11, 11–7 Gold Gold

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1987 Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China China Han Aiping China Guan Weizhen
China Lin Ying
7–15, 8–15 Silver Silver
1985 Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada China Han Aiping China Lin Ying
China Wu Dixi
15–9, 14–18, 15–9 Gold Gold

World Cup

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1988 National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand China Han Aiping 11–5, 6–11, 0–11 Silver Silver
1987 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Han Aiping 11–8, 11–8 Gold Gold
1986 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia China Han Aiping 11–8, 11–3 Gold Gold
1985 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Indonesia Ivana Lie 11–3, 11–2 Gold Gold
1984 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia China Han Aiping 10–12, 11–4, 11–7 Gold Gold
1983 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Han Aiping 5–11, 1–11 Bronze Bronze
1981 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Chen Ruizhen 10–12, 11–2, 7–11 Silver Silver

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1987 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Han Aiping China Guan Weizhen
China Lin Ying
15–10, 11–15, 15–5 Gold Gold
1986 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia China Han Aiping Indonesia Imelda Wiguna
Indonesia Rosiana Tendean
15–7, 15–7 Gold Gold
1985 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia China Han Aiping South Korea Kim Yun-ja
South Korea Yoo Sang-hee
11–15, 15–11, 3–15 Bronze Bronze
1984 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia England Gillian Gilks China Lin Ying
China Wu Dixi
3–15, 7–15 Bronze Bronze
1983 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Han Aiping China Wu Jianqiu
China Xu Rong
6–15, 15–8, 15–5 Gold Gold

Asian Games

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1986 Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea China Han Aiping 6–11, 9–11 Silver Silver
1982 Indraprastha Indoor Stadium,
New Delhi, India
China Zhang Ailing 6–11, 8–11 Silver Silver

International Tournaments (1 titles, 1 runners-up)

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1982 All England Open China Zhang Ailing 4–11, 6–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1982 Japan Open Japan Fumiko Tōkairin 11–2, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

IBF Grand Prix (28 titles, 7 runners-up)

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1983 Grand Prix Finals China Han Aiping 11–0, 4–11, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1984 Indonesian Open China Wu Jianqiu 11–7, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1984 Malaysian Open China Wu Jianqiu 6–11, 11–8, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1984 All England Open China Han Aiping 11–5, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1985 Indonesia Open China Han Aiping 11–9, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1985 All England Open China Han Aiping 7–11, 10–12 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1985 Swedish Open China Han Aiping 8–11, 11–8, 10–12 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1985 Grand Prix Finals China Han Aiping 11–3, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1986 Hong Kong Open China Han Aiping 10–12, 11–8, 12–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1986 Japan Open China Han Aiping 4–11, 12–9, 12–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1986 China Open China Han Aiping 3–11, 6–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1986 Grand Prix Finals China Han Aiping 11–5, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 Indonesia Open China Shi Wen 12–10, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 Malaysian Open China Han Aiping 11–3, 2–11, 12–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 Japan Open South Korea Hwang Hye-young 11–3, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 Scandinavian Open China Qian Ping 11–9, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 China Open China Han Aiping 6–11, 11–5, 12–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1987 Grand Prix Finals China Han Aiping 11–8, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 Indonesian Open South Korea Hwang Hye-young 11–5, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 China Open China Huang Hua 11–1, 7–11, 11–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 Thailand Open China Huang Hua 3–11, 11–6, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 English Masters China Han Aiping 4–11, 11–5, 12–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 Denmark Open China Han Aiping 11–7, 11–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1988 Malaysian Open China Han Aiping 7–11, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1989 All England Open Indonesia Susi Susanti 11–8, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1989 Japan Open China Huang Hua 11–4, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1989 French Open China Zhou Lei 11–5, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1989 Swedish Open China Sun Xiaoqing 11–8, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1985 Indonesian Open China Han Aiping Indonesia Ivana Lie
Indonesia Rosiana Tendean
15–7, 15–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1985 All England Open China Han Aiping China Wu Dixi
China Lin Ying
15–7, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1985 Swedish Open China Han Aiping China Wu Jianqiu
China Guan Weizhen
15–12, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1986 Hong Kong Open China Han Aiping China Guan Weizhen
China Lao Yujing
18–15, 15–9 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1986 Japan Open China Han Aiping China Wu Dixi
China Lin Ying
4–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1987 Scandinavian Open China Qian Ping China Guan Weizhen
China Lin Ying
1–15, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1989 French Open China Chiu Mei Yin China Zhou Lei
China Sun Xiaoqing
9–15, 10–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Invitation tournament (2 titles, 1 runners-up)

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1985 Malaysian Masters China Han Aiping 6–11, 10–12 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1988 Konica Cup China Huang Hua 12–9, 11–6 Gold Gold

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1985 Malaysian Masters China Han Aiping China Wu Dixi
China Lin Ying
5–15, 15–12, 15–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Personal honor

Li won the national award for " Best Athlete" in 1980 and the "Best International Athlete" title in 1985. She was awarded the title of "Sports Elite" and "International Sports Elite" in 1980 and 1985 respectively, and was awarded the "Sports Medal of Honor" by the State Sports Commission seven times. In addition, she has been selected as the "Top Ten National Athletes" for four consecutive times since 1984. In 1989 she was also named as one of China's outstanding athletes in the past 40 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

In terms of honors in the badminton world, Li was awarded the international badminton Distinguished Service Award, the "Outstanding Achievement Award" by the International Badminton Federation in 1994; and was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame 4 years later in 1998. Li was a torchbearer at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games she was a flag bearer. For her Olympic involvement, the IOC honored her with the Women and Sport Award in March 2008.

She also received Medals of Honor of World Labor Day, and Women’s Day, in China.

For her coaching contributions, Li was named one of the National “Top 10 Coaches of the Year” in 1997 and 1998.

Li is a representative of the Ninth National People's Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress, and a member of the Tenth and Eleventh National People's Political Consultative Conference.


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