Yang Yang (badminton)


Yang Yang is a former Chinese badminton player.
He is one of the four badminton players in the world to have won two World Badminton Championships men's singles titles consecutively, the others being Lin Dan, Chen Long and Kento Momota. He also won the men's singles gold medal when badminton was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He possessed great agility, quick footwork, accurate power, and coolness under pressure, and is widely regarded as one of the finest singles players in the history of the sport.

Career

Yang began training in 1975, when he was 12 years old. He was recruited by the Chinese national team in 1983. He won his first Chinese national championship title in 1984. In 1985, he won the Hong Kong Open by defeating Morten Frost. In 1986, he won the Japan Open and the Hong Kong Open for the second straight year, and also helped China to regain the Thomas Cup from Indonesia by winning key matches. In the late 80s he dominated international singles play, winning the World Championships over Morten Frost in 1987 and over young Ardy Wiranata in 1989. In 1988 he also won the Olympic exhibition event in Seoul. In 1989 he added the venerable All-England Championships to his tally; thus, by twenty-five, he captured all the titles by which "greatness" in the sport is generally measured.

China's Golden Generation

As a member of China's golden badminton generation of the 1980s which included the almost equally brilliant singles stars Zhao Jianhua and Xiong Guobao, Yang Yang played an important role in making China the major world badminton superpower. His play was instrumental in China's consecutive Thomas Cup titles in 1986, 1988, and 1990.

Retirement

In 1991, he retired as a player and started coaching in Malaysia. In the very next year, he guided Malaysia to its first Thomas Cup victory in 25 years, the only occasion since 1967 in which neither Indonesia nor China has won the cup. He then stayed in Malaysia to develop his business for badminton equipment. He returned to China in year 2000, and opened a badminton club named after himself in Nanjing.

Achievements

Olympic Games (exhibition)

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1988Seoul National University Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Icuk Sugiarto15–4, 15–10 Gold

World Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1985Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada Morten Frost8–15, 5–15 Bronze
1987Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China Morten Frost15–2, 13–15, 15–12 Gold
1989Senayan Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia Ardy Wiranata15–10, 2–15, 15–5 Gold

World Cup

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1984Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Han Jian12–15, 10–15 Silver
1985Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Morten Frost15–12, 14–17, 10–15 Bronze
1986Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Morten Frost9–15, 1–15 Bronze
1987Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Zhao Jianhua15–6, 2–15, 12–15 Silver
1988National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Zhao Jianhua15–5, 15–6 Gold
1989Guangzhou Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China Foo Kok Keong17–14, 15–6 Gold
1990Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Wu Wenkai12–15, 9–15 Bronze

Asian Games

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1986Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea Zhao Jianhua9–15, 16–17 Silver
1990Beijing Gymnasium, Beijing, China Zhao Jianhua10–15, 11–15 Silver

Asian Championships

Men's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1985Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Zhao Jianhua10-15, 15–5, 6–15 Silver

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.
Men's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1985Hong Kong Open Morten Frost15–10, 15–11 Winner
1986Japan Open Ib Frederiksen5–15, 15–6, 15–8 Winner
1986Hong Kong Open Icuk Sugiarto6–15, 15–8, 15–6 Winner
1986World Grand Prix Finals Morten Frost18–13, 15–8 Winner
1987Scandinavian Open Icuk SugiartoWalkover Winner
1987Malaysia Open Steen Fladberg4–15, 15–10, 15–7 Winner
1987Indonesia Open Eddy Kurniawan15–6, 15–8 Winner
1988Hong Kong Open Icuk Sugiarto15–7, 1–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1989Japan Open Foo Kok Keong15–2, 15–10 Winner
1989All England Open Morten Frost15–6, 15–7 Winner