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Vital information and importance on badminton in China
CBA (CBA101)
Cotabato City State Polytechnic College
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BADMINTON IN CHINA
The sport you weren’t quite sure how to spell, was first developed in the mid-19th century in British India, then called “poona,” and is one of the most played sports in the world, with an estimated 220 million people playing badminton regularly. The name is derived from Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where the sport was commonly played by the guests of the Duke of Beaufort. Badminton has become one of China’s favorite sports with thousands of amateur leagues throughout the country. The world’s most populous nation has also come to be the greatest force in both men’s and women’s badminton competition recently.
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. A shuttlecock, despite its funny name, is a high-drag projectile in a cone shape, formed from 16 overlapping feathers embedded into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material. The point of the game is to hit the shuttlecock over the net before it hits the ground, with each game played to 21 points. The idea is simple enough, but there is huge amount of technique and skill involved. A few basic moves include lift, block, drive, smash, slicing, lob, and serve. Competitions include men and women’s single, as well as doubles, and mixed doubles. While most of us will never be professional badminton players, learning the basic moves can allow for many fun and exciting games among friends.
China’s Badminton Dominance
There is no question that China is the current dominating badminton champion. The first Chinese provincial badminton team was established in Southeast China’s Fujian Province in 1956, and the first Chinese badminton team formed in 1963, which was suspended for some years during the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976) and resumed in 1973. The players trained hard and their skills improved quickly. In 1978, China was among 21 other nations and regions to first join the World Badminton Federation, now known as the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Since the BWF began formal competitions in 1982, China has consistently won good scores in various international competitions. The Chinese badminton team reached its height in the 1980s, winning all five gold medals at the Fifth World Badminton Championships in 1987 and the Badminton World Cup in 1988. With the sport gaining accreditation as an Olympic event in 1992, badminton was propelled on to the world stage and helped boost its global appeal, with China soon proving why it deserved to be the sport’s leader. China is one of the most successful badminton teams in history, having won the Thomas Cup (men’s team championship) nine times and the Uber Cup (women’s team championship) 13 times. China has also won more medals in badminton at the Olympics than any other country.
One of China’s most recognizable badminton players is Lin Dan. By the age of 28, Lin had completed the “Super Grand Slam,” having won all nine major titles in the badminton world, and he is the only player in badminton history to have won two-time Olympic champion and five-time World Champions. Alongside him is Zhang Ning, one of the best woman badminton players in the history of the sport. Her accomplishments include being the only female player to win consecutive Olympic singles gold medals in 2004 and 2008. China’s love and dominance in the sport can be attributed to three factors. First is support from the government. The Chinese government provides a majority of the funding for
the Chinese national team, including training and financial upkeep of the players throughout the year. This allows them to focus solely on the sport without the stress of financial burdens. Second is China’s well-established badminton program, which allows the sport to find solid players from around the country for its national team and ensures that badminton maintains its success and popularity throughout the country. For example, Zhang Ning, the best ever woman player, started her professional training at the age of 11 and became a national team member at 16. However, she got the opportunity to represent the nation to attend the Olympics at 29, through years of fierce competition with her excellent fellow team members. “I even officially asked for retirement to my coach in 2001 when I was 26,” she recalled, “It was just because of love for this game that I went through highly-intensive training, torturing physical injuries, and desperate longing for winning.” Finally, there is a huge talent pool of skilled badminton players in China. Badminton is a non-contact game that has been played for decades by children in schools and colleges throughout the country. As such, China has been able to translate this youthful love for the game into a dedicated group of men and women who compete internationally at the highest level, allowing China to dominate the sport in international and regional events.
Health Benefits
When thinking of badminton, many people wouldn’t think of it as an athletic sport. However, badminton has numerous health benefits to those who play. As an aerobic sport, players are continually running around the court, requiring them to be agile, strong, and have good stamina. Using the racquet also requires the player to have good motor coordination. The BWF claims, “Badminton offers multiple health benefits and promotes longevity in older people.” While many people don’t play badminton competitively, taking part in sports that involve competition can help players increase their self-esteem, self-confidence, motivation, and helps reduce stress and depression.
In China, during spring and summer, many children, parents, and grandparents can be seen playing badminton within their apartment complex and in local parks. Often, the sport is played inside, on a professional court, which looks similar to a tennis court, except for a higher net. Many gymnasiums have badminton courts with several nets, allowing a number of players to play games at the same time. However, when the weather is nice, many people simply choose to hit the shuttlecock back and forth outside, without the use of the net. The sport is a great way to relax from the pressures of the day and connect with friends and family. It seems that no matter at what level badminton is played, the sport continues to be popular in China.
TOP 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Chinese Badminton Players of all time. This list of famous Chinese Badminton Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Chinese Badminton Players.
1. Lin Dan
With an HPI of 56, Lin Dan is the most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Lin Dan (born 14 October 1983) is a Chinese former professional badminton player. He is a two-time Olympic champion, five-time World champion, as well as a six-time All England champion. Widely regarded
With an HPI of 47, Gao Ling is the 4th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Gao Ling (Chinese: 高崚; pinyin: Gāo Líng; born 14 March 1979) is a Chinese former badminton player.
5. Fu Haifeng
With an HPI of 47, Fu Haifeng is the 5th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Fu Haifeng (born 23 August 1983) is a former professional badminton player representing China. He is regarded as the greatest men's doubles players of all time.
6. Cai Yun
With an HPI of 45, Cai Yun is the 6th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Cai Yun (born 19 January 1980) is a former professional badminton player representing China. He is the 2012 London Olympic gold medallist and a four-time World Champion in men's doubles. He is regarded as the greatest men's doubles of all time.
7. Chen Long
With an HPI of 45, Chen Long is the 7th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Chen Long (Chinese: 谌龙; pinyin: Chén Lóng; Mandarin pronunciation: [ n l ŋ]; born 18 January ʈʂʰə̂ ʊ̌ 1989), is a Chinese professional badminton player. He is the 2016 Olympic champion, two-time World champion, and an Asian champion. Chen was a former World number 1, occupying the top men's singles ranking for 76 consecutive weeks from December 2014 to June 2016. He started his achievements in the international stage by winning the boys' singles title in the Asian and World Junior Championships in 2007, and then won his first professional tournament in the Philippines Open in 2009.
8. Yang Wei
With an HPI of 44, Yang Wei is the 8th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Yang Wei (simplified Chinese: 杨维; traditional Chinese: 楊維; pinyin: Yáng Wéi; Cantonese Yale: Yeung Wai; born 13 January 1979) is a Chinese former badminton player who affiliate with Guangdong provincial team.
9. Chen Jin
With an HPI of 43, Chen Jin is the 9th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Chen Jin (born 10 January 1986) is a retired badminton player from China. He is a former world men's singles champion and an Olympic bronze medalist. He also served as women's singles coach of the China national badminton team.
10. Gong Zhichao
With an HPI of 43, Gong Zhichao is the 10th most famous Chinese Badminton Player. Gong Zhichao (simplified Chinese: 龚智超; traditional Chinese: 龔智超; pinyin: Gōng Zhìchāo; born 15 December 1977) is a former badminton player from the People's Republic of China.
10 Main Reasons China Is So Good at Badminton
China joined other nations in 1978 to form the World Badminton Federation, which was later renamed the Badminton World Federation. The country’s badminton team earned a lot of glory in the 1980s after it won all the 1987 gold medals at the fifth edition of the World Badminton Championships. Later on, Badminton gained Olympic accreditation in 1992, and this gave China a chance to prove its prowess. When it comes to the Olympics, China boasts the most badminton medals of any other country. Also, the nation has won the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup many times. To understand why China dominates international Badminton, it is necessary to delve deep into the consistent good practices that have been adopted by the country. These include:
1. Government Support
The country’s men and women programs benefit from huge government funding. The government foots the training, housing, and meal expenditures which lets the players focus on the game. There are numerous schools and camps where the talents of these athletes are honed and which are government-funded. The Chinese are good at optimizing their returns based on massive investments.
The best talents that are identified undergo world-class training with the goal that a sizeable portion of them will be Olympic medalists. Most of the players in other badminton- playing countries have to pay for training themselves or rely on federations for support. These financial obligations prevent most of the world’s athletes from accessing top-quality training.
The Chinese Badminton Association
The sport is also very well-managed by capable institutions. The Chinese Badminton Association, an independent legal entity, serves as the governing authority in matters of badminton. It has been serving in this capacity since 1958, and it represents the nation in the International Badminton Federation. Under this association are 6 committees that oversee various aspects including research, youth, rules, coaches, development, and news. These committees represent a well-laid-out structure that ensures the continued dominance of China in badminton.
2. Huge Pool of Talent
The Chinese have implemented highly effective talent sourcing and grooming methods. Every small locality in the country has its badminton talent pool. Skilled players gradually rise through the ranks, and backed by the country’s substantial support, compete in national games. Most Chinese participate in the sport as a recreational activity and have therefore become good at it. Basically, China has benefitted from its deeply ingrained badminton culture.
The Chinese are quite secretive when it comes to their camps and training methods. The world, however, witnesses the effectiveness of the grueling training techniques that the players undergo at badminton games in the Olympics and other global events.
In almost all of the primary international events, China takes home 80-90% of all the badminton medals. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics for example, China received three of the five available medals and eight medals in 2012. The country’s top-rated athletes are highly masterful and skillful in the games that they play.
4. Coaches
Great Players Become Great Coaches
Many ex-players on the national and provincial level transition to badminton coaching, mostly in their hometown localities. Players have the opportunities to learn from the very people they admired in the badminton court. This proximity to greatness fuels the thirst for success among budding athletes. One of these ex-player coaches is Zhang Ning who was appointed to coach the country’s women’s national team in 2006. In addition to being a coach, Ning also undertook her own training. Coaches like Zhang Ning impart the skills they use themselves in the Olympics to further prepare the budding athletes. Another former international player turned coach is Zhang Jun. He was singled out as the head of the Chinese Badminton Association on January 28, 2019.
World-Class Coaches
China also prides itself on having a skilled pool of world-class coaches like Tang Xianhu. Tang was one of the exemplary Indonesian junior players before going to China to work in competitive badminton between 1961 to 1979. In 1963, Tang individually won the Games of New Emerging Forces, and he replicated the win in the Asian Games of New Emerging Forces. He remained unbeaten from 1965 to 1975 in the Chinese national games both as an individual and in the team. Tang took home two bronze medals at the Asian Games in 1974. After retiring from professional badminton, Tang coached the Indonesian team and subsequently the Chinese team. He is well-known for guiding Ji Xinpeng to Olympic gold in 2004.
Sports Insight Analysts
The coaches also benefit from insight relied upon them by hundreds of analysts and support teams. During the Olympics, these analysts examine the strengths and vulnerabilities of players from other countries, and this information is taken to the coaches for more effective instruction.
Hiring Foreign Coaches
The country also hires foreign coaches if need be. International badminton coaches move to China due to the attractive working conditions. There is money available to acquire training gadgets and to even hire assistant coaches. If they want to try out new training
methods, for example, the resources are readily available provided good performance is guaranteed.
5. Discipline and Motivation
Economic & Wellness Incentives
Athletes from low-income families in China often view sports as a way out of poverty. The parents of budding talents often benefit from a house in their hometown given by the local sports bureau. Also, students from these families view the state-run sports schools as their chance of receiving an education.
Athletes from low-income families in China often view sports as a way out of poverty. The parents of budding talents often benefit from a house in their hometown given by the local sports bureau. Also, students from these families view the state-run sports schools as their chance of receiving an education.
Olympic medalists in China benefit from payments from the General Administration of Sport as well as provincial payments. The 2008 Olympic gold medalists, for example, were set to receive $51,000 each. China took home a whopping 51 gold medals. This cash payment was an increase from the $29,000 in 2004. For most athletes, sports is the only platform for income generation. If they fail at badminton, their families lose face.
A Strict Training System
The athletes also adhere to a strict schedule every day. Their days typically begin at 6: am after they leave their dormitories to do warm-ups before breakfast. They then proceed to the gym to train for some hours before lunch and a short nap. There is more practice in the afternoon as well as some classes. The athletes subsequently receive physical therapy and dinner. The athletes may undergo further training in the evening before big competitions.
A former British coach, after working and observing the Chinese team, noted that the players trained harder than any athletes in any other country they had ever seen. He concluded that the players had an ability to endure pain for a more extended period than western counterparts. Further, the players exhibited reliability as they reported for practice every day and gave it their most effort.
6. National Pride
For years, China has inculcated a culture of national pride in the nation’s athletic performance on the global stage, particularly in the Olympics. The country’s players feel like it is their responsibility to make China shine in their games. China’s first gold medal, for example, brought its entire country into tears when it was won by Xu Haifeng in 1984. The communist state took this gold medal as a sign of having earned a place among the global powers.
International Spotlight
The Chinese athletic development system relies on effective recruitment strategies. The system relies on early recruitment, where players are identified and trained from a young age. Different cities assess children between the ages of 8 to 13, and select sports candidates based on the results.
Children that exhibit the most promise are sent to government-sponsored institutions. Players with a quick reflex, for example, are singled out for badminton and ping pong. X Rays and bone tests can be used to determine the bone structure and density and predict future development. Coaches can also recommend players to sports schools as can the full-time scouts who crisscross the country looking for talent.
9. Better Players
China has established itself as a Badminton superpower by just having better players. Take this list for example of the top ten badminton players in history. Four of the athletes are Chinese badminton champions.
“Super Dan”
Lin Dan is perhaps the greatest of the world’s badminton players. He is commonly called “Super Dan,” a title which he earned for winning every title the game has to offer. Lin Dan made his badminton debut in 2000 when he won the team and singles events in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. His first title was earned in the 2002 Korea open. In 2004, Lin took home the titles of the Swiss Open and All England Open. He was part of the delegation that won the 2004 Thomas Cup by defeating the US, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan. Lin was ranked as the number one player in 2005, and he won the China Masters, Japan Open, and the World Cup tournament. Lin acquired his first world title in 2006 and took home five more individual titles including the Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, and the Chinese Taipei Open. Lin shone in the 2008 Olympics where he defeated his teammates. By the time he reached 28 years, Lin had finalized the “Super Grand Slam” by winning all of the nine available major titles in the badminton sphere.
Gao Ling
Gao Ling is another widely celebrated badminton player in China. She has a successful repertoire as a doubles player in women’s badminton. Gao Ling has taken home four gold medals out of the total nine at the BWF World Championships. Three of the medals were won in 2001, 2003, and 2006 with Huang Sui while she received one medal after playing in mixed doubles with her teammate Zhang Jun. Ling and Huang captured six consecutive titles in the women’s doubled at the All-England Championships between 2001 and 2006. Ling, with her partner Qin Yiyuan, received a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics, and also in the 2004 Olympics, she earned a silver medal with Huang Sui.
Li Lingwei
China has made many great badminton players in history. In the 1980s, Li Lingwei dominated women’s badminton with outstanding court coverage and netplay. She won the
World Championships in 1983 and 1989 in Denmark and India respectively. Li and her partner Han Aiping won the IBF World doubles in 1985. The two players were also involved in the biennial Uber Cup wins of the national team. Li did not make an Olympic debut as badminton was added in 1992.
10. Outstanding Team
The Best of the Best
China’s badminton team has the most elite players the country has to offer. Not only are these players in competition with others from across the world, but there is fierce competition between themselves as well. Since there are many badminton players in China, a player has to be at their best performance as others will readily fill his/her spot.
The first Thomas Cup title to be won by the team was received in 1982 in London after the Chinese team defeated Indonesia. In 1984, the team beat England to get the Uber Cup in Malaysia. Since then, the Chinese national team has taken home 8 more titles of the Thomas Cup and 12 more of the Uber Cup.
Excellent Facilities and Equipment
Additionally, the team has access to state-of-the-art facilities, technology, and equipment. The players wear the traditional badminton shoes called the Baiky shoes which are fitted with canvas tops and rubber soles. The shoes offer the best traction and grip on any surface and thus enhances the footwork of the players.
During practice shifts, the players use the approved JinQue badminton series shuttles which have excellent flight characteristics. The players also regularly use racket grips from the Kimony KGT-111 series which are super-absorbent and non-slippery
The country’s youth badminton team is sponsored by Kason, a company known for its effective series of rackets. These rackets have good flight characteristics and are equally durable.
The TSF 86Ti, for example, is produced from graphite enhanced with titanium. Its design is credited to the famous coach Tang Xianhu, and it is especially fit for hard-hitting players. The Chinese are masters at making products that suit their precise needs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Asian countries enjoy relative dominance in badminton, but of all of them, China displays the most dominance. The most critical ingredient in this dominance is the players and the government channels a lot of resourcing to nurturing its badminton talent.
The country’s training methods have however generated criticism as young kids are expected to follow through with strict training schedules. China’s professional badminton athletes take the sport as a full-time job. With bills such as housing and training taken care of by the government, the players put maximum effort into being the best.
Vital information and importance on badminton in China
Course: CBA (CBA101)
University: Cotabato City State Polytechnic College
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