Zhang Jun (badminton)


Zhang Jun is a former male badminton player from the People's Republic of China. He is now a coach with the Chinese national team following his retirement from international play.

Career

As a doubles specialist, the solidly built Zhang Jun won several international men's doubles titles with compatriot Zhang Wei including the Swiss, China, and Thailand Opens. However, the majority of his titles, and the most prestigious ones, came in mixed doubles with the formidable Gao Ling. These included consecutive gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, earned by surviving a number of tight matches, particularly in 2000 when they were on the verge of elimination in the semifinals. In similar fashion, Zhang and Gao captured the 2001 IBF World Championships by squeezing past the brilliant Kim Dong-moon and partner Ra Kyung-min 17-16 in the third game. Zhang's other titles with Gao included three victories at the prestigious All-England Championships; the Badminton Asia Championships in 2002; the China Masters in 2005; and the China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and German Opens.
Zhang had the honor of being an Olympic torch carrier at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Games.
After retirement, Zhang Jun coached the Chinese Badminton National Team. He was promoted to head coach of the national badminton doubles team in 2017, before being selected as vice chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association.
On January 28, 2019, Zhang Jun was elected as the chairman of Chinese Badminton Association.
Zhang Jun, as the current president of the Chinese Badminton Association, will compete with Khunying Patama, his counterpart from the Badminton Association of Thailand and Anton Aditya Subowo, the current president of Badminton Asia, to run for the position of BWF deputy president.
The BWF will vote for the winning candidate in May 2019, during the Sudirman Cup tournament in Nanning, China.

Personal life

Zhang Jun married synchronised swimmer Hu Ni in 2006. Their son was born in 2009.

Achievements

World Championships

Men's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1999Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark Zhang Wei Ha Tae-kwon
Kim Dong-moon
6–15, 15–17 Bronze

Asian Championships

Men's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1998Bangkok, Thailand Zhang Wei Ha Tae-kwon
Kang Kyung-jin
15–12, 11–15, 13–15 Silver
1999Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Zhang Wei Ha Tae-kwon
Kim Dong-moon
6–15, 4–15 Silver

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation since 1983.
Men's doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1998Swiss Open Zhang Wei Liu Yong
Yu Jinhao
17–15, 15–7 Winner
2000Thailand Open Zhang Wei Sigit Budiarto
Halim Haryanto
15–5, 15–10 Winner
2001China Open Zhang Wei Chen Qiqiu
Liu Yong
7–1, 4–7, 8–6 4–7, 7–5 Winner