Gong Zhichao
Encyclopedia
Gong Zhichao is a female badminton
player from the People's Republic of China
.
consecutively in 2000
and 2001 over fellow countrywomen Dai Yun
and Zhou Mi
respectively in the finals. Her other titles included the 1996 Asian Championships
, the 2000 Copenhagen Masters
; and the Denmark (1996), Swedish
(1997), China
(1997), Japan
(1998, 2000), and Malaysia
(2000) Opens. At the then biennial IBF (BWF) World Championships Gong was a silver medalist behind fellow countrywoman Ye Zhaoying
in 1997
, and a bronze medalist in 2001
. She played winning singles for Chinese
Uber Cup
(women's international) teams that reclaimed the world team title from Indonesia
in 1998 and retained the title in 2000.
Unfortunately for Gong, her biggest triumph in an event for individual players, women's singles at the 2000 Olympic Games
, is tainted by controversy. According to his later statement, China's head badminton coach Li Yongbo
instructed Gong's semifinal opponent, teammate Ye Zhaoying
, to "throw" the match against her, on his assumption that Gong would have the better chance to defeat Denmark
's Camilla Martin
in the final. Whatever the effect of these "instructions" on Ye, a two time former IBF World Champion, she lost the match to Gong 8-11, 8-11, who in turn defeated reigning IBF World Champion Martin for the gold medal 13-10, 11-3.
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player from the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Career
Gong was one of the world's leading women's singles players between her first international titles in 1996 and her retirement in 2002. She won some of the world's biggest tournaments including the venerable All-England ChampionshipAll England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
consecutively in 2000
2000 All England Open Badminton Championships
The 2000 All England Open was the 90th edition of the All England Open Badminton Championships. It was held from 7 March to 12 March 2000, in Birmingham, England.It was a four star tournament and the prize money was USD$125,000.-Final results:...
and 2001 over fellow countrywomen Dai Yun
Dai Yun
Dai Yun is a retired Chinese female badminton player.-Career:At the beginning of the century Dai was ranked among the world's leading women's singles players, most of whom were her fellow countrywomen. Her titles included the Chinese Taipei , Malaysia , Thailand , and Swiss Opens...
and Zhou Mi
Zhou Mi
Zhou Mi is a Chinese female badminton player. During much of her career she represented the People's Republic of China, but since 2007 she has represented Hong Kong which has a sports program and teams independent from those of the mainland. In 2010 she received a 2 year ban, for failing a drugs...
respectively in the finals. Her other titles included the 1996 Asian Championships
Badminton Asia Championships
The Badminton Asia Championships is a tournament organized by the Badminton Asia Confederation to crown the best badminton players in Asia....
, the 2000 Copenhagen Masters
Copenhagen Masters
The Copenhagen Masters is a high-ranking tournament in badminton. It is an invitation tournament held annually since 1993 in the week between Christmas and New Year in Copenhagen. The Danish top players meet thereby the remaining world point leaders. The venue was in the first eleven years the...
; and the Denmark (1996), Swedish
Swedish Open (badminton)
The Swedish Open was an open badminton tournament that was annually held from 1956 to 1999 after which the organizer, Svenska Badmintonförbundet, could no longer find a suitable sponsor. To some extent it has been replaced by the Swedish International Stockholm tournament.-Winners:...
(1997), China
China Open (badminton)
The China Open is an annual badminton tournament held in People's Republic of China. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007.-Past winners:...
(1997), Japan
Japan Open (badminton)
The Japan Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Japan. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007.-Past winners:...
(1998, 2000), and Malaysia
Malaysia Open (badminton)
The Malaysia Open is an annual badminton event that commonly held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament has been held since 1937 and has been played in different locations such as Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, Selangor, Kuantan....
(2000) Opens. At the then biennial IBF (BWF) World Championships Gong was a silver medalist behind fellow countrywoman Ye Zhaoying
Ye Zhaoying
Ye Zhaoying is a retired women's singles badminton player from Zhejiang, the People's Republic of China who rates as one of the finest that China or any nation has produced. Officially ranked as the number one player in the world for the first time in December 1995, she lost but regained that...
in 1997
1997 IBF World Championships
The 10th IBF World Championships were held in Glasgow, Scotland, between 24 May and 1 June 1997.-Medalists:-Seeds:# Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen# Heryanto Arbi# Ardy Wiranata# Sun Jun# Park Sung-woo# Peter Rasmussen# Alan Budikusuma...
, and a bronze medalist in 2001
2001 IBF World Championships
The 12th IBF World Championships, also known as the World Badminton Championships, were held in the Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain, between 3 June and 10 June 2001.-Medalists:-Men's Singles:-Women's Singles:-Men's Doubles:...
. She played winning singles for Chinese
China national badminton team
The China national badminton team represents the People's Republic of China in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Badminton Association of the People's Republic of China, the governing body for badminton in China....
Uber Cup
Uber Cup
The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Team Championships for Women, is a major international badminton competition contested by women's national badminton teams. First held in 1956-1957 and contested at three year intervals, it has been contested every two years since 1984 when its scheduled...
(women's international) teams that reclaimed the world team title from Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
in 1998 and retained the title in 2000.
Unfortunately for Gong, her biggest triumph in an event for individual players, women's singles at the 2000 Olympic Games
Badminton at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Badminton was held at The Dome and Exhibition Complex at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney from September 17–23, 2000. The competition included five events ....
, is tainted by controversy. According to his later statement, China's head badminton coach Li Yongbo
Li Yongbo
Li Yongbo is a retired Chinese male badminton player and now the head coach of Chinese National Badminton Team.-Career:As a player he was a men's doubles specialist noted for his quickness, reflexes, and power. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s he shared numerous international titles with his...
instructed Gong's semifinal opponent, teammate Ye Zhaoying
Ye Zhaoying
Ye Zhaoying is a retired women's singles badminton player from Zhejiang, the People's Republic of China who rates as one of the finest that China or any nation has produced. Officially ranked as the number one player in the world for the first time in December 1995, she lost but regained that...
, to "throw" the match against her, on his assumption that Gong would have the better chance to defeat Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
's Camilla Martin
Camilla Martin
Camilla Martin Nygaard née Martin is a retired badminton player from Denmark. She and Lene Køppen, who played two decades earlier, are the only Danish women to have won both the All-England and World singles titles....
in the final. Whatever the effect of these "instructions" on Ye, a two time former IBF World Champion, she lost the match to Gong 8-11, 8-11, who in turn defeated reigning IBF World Champion Martin for the gold medal 13-10, 11-3.