Gong Zhichao


Gong Zhichao is a former badminton player from the People's Republic of China.

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 Championship 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, Swedish, China, Japan, and Malaysia Opens. At the then biennial IBF 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 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.

Achievements

Olympic Games

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
2000The Dome, Sydney, Australia Camilla Martin13–10, 11–3 Gold

World Championships

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
2001Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain Gong Ruina10–13, 4–11 Bronze
1997Scotstoun Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Ye Zhaoying11–12, 8–11 Silver

World Cup

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1997Yogyakarta, Indonesia Susi Susanti10–13, 9–11 Bronze

Asian Games

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1998Thammasat Gymnasium 2, Bangkok, Thailand Kanako Yonekura11–1, 5–11, 6–11 Silver

Asian Championships

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1999Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ye Zhaoying2–11, 4–11 Bronze
1998Bangkok, Thailand Ye Zhaoying5–11, 12–11 Silver
1996Surabaya, Indonesia Lee Joo-hyun11–7, 11–1 Gold

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation since 1983.
Women's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
2001All England Open Zhou Mi11–7, 11–3 Winner
2000Grand Prix Finals Zhou Mi5–7, 7–5, 1–7, 0–7 Runner-up
2000Malaysia Open Dai Yun11–6, 11–8 Winner
2000Japan Open Ye Zhaoying11–7, 11–3 Winner
2000All England Open Dai Yun11–5, 8–11, 11–5 Winner
1999Singapore Open Ye Zhaoying5–11, 11–5, 7–11 Runner-up
1999Japan Open Ye Zhaoying11–1, 5–11, 6–11 Runner-up
1998Swedish Open Kim Ji-hyun10–12, 8–11 Runner-up
1998Japan Open Ye Zhaoying11–1, 11–4 Winner
1997China Open Dai Yun11–1, 11–5 Winner
1997Singapore Open Mia Audina6–11, 6–11 Runner-up
1997All England Open Ye Zhaoying3–11, 1–11 Runner-up
1997Swedish Open Ra Kyung-min11–4, 11–4 Winner
1997Korea Open Ye Zhaoying11–6, 10–12, 4–11 Runner-up
1997Japan Open Mia Audina3–11, 11–2, 5–11 Runner-up
1996Denmark Open Marina Andrievskaya12–11, 11–4 Winner
1996Russian Open Han Jingna7–11, 5–11 Runner-up