Xiong Guobao

Xiong Guobao (born 1 November 1962) is a former elite-level badminton player from China who won numerous international singles titles in the late 1980s.

Career Noted for his solid, consistent play, Xiong rarely suffered lopsided defeats. His titles included the United States (1984), Japan (1987), Hong Kong (1987), Malaysian (1988, 1989), Thailand (1988), French (1989), Swedish (1988), and Indonesian (1989) Opens. He also won the (now defunct) season ending World Badminton Grand Prix tourney in 1987 and in 1989. Along with fellow singles stars Yang Yang and Zhao Jianhua, Xiong helped China's Thomas Cup (men's international) teams capture consecutive world titles in 1986, 1988, and 1990. His results in IBF World Championships were somewhat disappointing, losing quarterfinal matches to Icuk Sugiarto and Eddy Kurniawan respectively in the 1987 and 1989 editions of the tourney.

Personal life Xiong married to Qian Ping, his teammates from Jiangxi provincial team in Nanchang in 1991. But after eleven years of marriage, they divorced in 2002.

Achievements

World Cup Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1987 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Zhao Jianhua 9–15, 5–15 Bronze Bronze 1988 National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Yang Yang 9–15, 15–12, 9–15 Bronze Bronze

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

Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1985 Thailand Open Icuk Sugiarto 6–15, 3–15 Runner-up 1987 Japan Open Zhao Jianhua 12–15, 15–13, 15–10 Winner 1987 Hong Kong Open Darren Hall 6–15, 15–4, 15–10 Winner 1987 China Open Zhao Jianhua 10–15, 15–8, 6–15 Runner-up 1987 World Grand Prix Finals Eddy Kurniawan 15–2, 18–14 Winner 1988 German Open Morten Frost 4–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1988 Swedish Open Jens Olsson 15–9, 15–4 Winner 1988 Thailand Open Sompol Kukasemkij 18–15, 15–13 Winner 1988 Malaysia Open Wu Wenkai 11–15, 15–6, 15–2 Winner 1988 World Grand Prix Finals Zhang Qingwu 10–15, 15–4, 8–15 Runner-up 1989 French Open Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen 15–7, 15–3 Winner 1989 Malaysia Open Zhao Jianhua 15–12, 15–3 Winner 1989 China Open Ardy Wiranata 15–17, 12–15 Runner-up 1989 Indonesia Open Joko Suprianto 15–0, 15–4 Winner 1989 World Grand Prix Finals Foo Kok Keong 15–11, 15–7 Winner

IBF International Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1984 U.S. Open Huang Zhen 15–9, 15–2 Winner

Invitational tournament Men's singles Year Tournament Venue Opponent Score Result 1988 Asian Invitational Championships Bandar Lampung, Indonesia Foo Kok Keong 15–9, 15–5 Gold Gold