Gong Zhichao

Gong Zhichao (; born 15 December 1977) 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 (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.

Achievements

Olympic Games Women's singles

World Championships Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 2001 Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain Gong Ruina 10–13, 4–11 Bronze Bronze 1997 Scotstoun Centre, Glasgow, Scotland Ye Zhaoying 11–12, 8–11 Silver Silver

World Cup Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1997 Yogyakarta, Indonesia Susi Susanti 10–13, 9–11 Bronze Bronze

Asian Games Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1998 Thammasat Gymnasium 2, Bangkok, Thailand Kanako Yonekura 11–1, 5–11, 6–11 Silver Silver

Asian Championships Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1999 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ye Zhaoying 2–11, 4–11 Bronze Bronze 1998 Bangkok, Thailand Ye Zhaoying 5–11, 12–11 Silver Silver 1996 Surabaya, Indonesia Lee Joo-hyun 11–7, 11–1 Gold Gold

IBF World Grand Prix The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) since 1983.

Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 2001 All England Open Zhou Mi 11–7, 11–3 Winner 2000 Grand Prix Finals Zhou Mi 5–7, 7–5, 1–7, 0–7 Runner-up 2000 Malaysia Open Dai Yun 11–6, 11–8 Winner 2000 Japan Open Ye Zhaoying 11–7, 11–3 Winner 2000 All England Open Dai Yun 11–5, 8–11, 11–5 Winner 1999 Singapore Open Ye Zhaoying 5–11, 11–5, 7–11 Runner-up 1999 Japan Open Ye Zhaoying 11–1, 5–11, 6–11 Runner-up 1998 Swedish Open Kim Ji-hyun 10–12, 8–11 Runner-up 1998 Japan Open Ye Zhaoying 11–1, 11–4 Winner 1997 China Open Dai Yun 11–1, 11–5 Winner 1997 Singapore Open Mia Audina 6–11, 6–11 Runner-up 1997 All England Open Ye Zhaoying 3–11, 1–11 Runner-up 1997 Swedish Open Ra Kyung-min 11–4, 11–4 Winner 1997 Korea Open Ye Zhaoying 11–6, 10–12, 4–11 Runner-up 1997 Japan Open Mia Audina 3–11, 11–2, 5–11 Runner-up 1996 Denmark Open Marina Andrievskaya 12–11, 11–4 Winner 1996 Russian Open Han Jingna 7–11, 5–11 Runner-up