Yang Yang (badminton)
Encyclopedia
Yang Yang is a former Chinese badminton
player.
He is one of the two badminton players in the world to have won two World Badminton Championships men's singles titles consecutively (1987
, 1989
), the other being Lin Dan
. 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.
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
(men's world team championship) 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 (badminton became an official Olympic sport at the next games in Barcelona
). 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.
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
(men's world team) titles in 1986, 1988, and 1990. Players of his generation set the foundation for the current Chinese world badminton players.
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.
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player.
He is one of the two badminton players in the world to have won two World Badminton Championships men's singles titles consecutively (1987
1987 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:* *...
, 1989
1989 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:- Men's singles :- Women's singles :- Men's doubles :- Women's doubles :- Mixed doubles :-References:***...
), the other being Lin Dan
Lin Dan
Lin Dan is a professional badminton player from China. He is a four-time world champion and the reigning Olympic champion. Widely considered to be the greatest badminton player of all time, by the age of 27 Lin had completed the "Super Grand Slam", having won all major titles in world badminton:...
. He also won the men's singles gold medal when badminton was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 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 teamChina national badminton team
The China national badminton team represents the People's Republic of China in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Badminton Association of the People's Republic of China, the governing body for badminton in China....
in 1983. He won his first Chinese national championship title in 1984. In 1985, he won the Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong Open (badminton)
The Hong Kong Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Hong Kong since 1982, but it did not take place annually. It is organized by Hong Kong Badminton Association and it became one of the Super Series tournament in 2007. In 2008, Wang Chen became the first home player to win the Hong Kong...
by defeating Morten Frost
Morten Frost
Morten Frost or Morten Frost Hansen, aka "Mr Badminton", is a former badminton player and later coach, who represented Denmark...
. In 1986, he won the Japan Open
Japan Open (badminton)
The Japan Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Japan. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007.-Past winners:...
and the Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong Open (badminton)
The Hong Kong Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Hong Kong since 1982, but it did not take place annually. It is organized by Hong Kong Badminton Association and it became one of the Super Series tournament in 2007. In 2008, Wang Chen became the first home player to win the Hong Kong...
for the second straight year, and also helped China to regain the Thomas Cup
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
(men's world team championship) from Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
by winning key matches. In the late 80s he dominated international singles play, winning the World Championships
BWF World Championships
The BWF World Championships is a tournament organized by the Badminton World Federation to crown the best badminton players in the world....
over Morten Frost
Morten Frost
Morten Frost or Morten Frost Hansen, aka "Mr Badminton", is a former badminton player and later coach, who represented Denmark...
in 1987
1987 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:* *...
and over young Ardy Wiranata
Ardy Wiranata
Ardy Bernardus Wiranata was an Indonesian badminton player who rated among the top singles players in the world during most of the 1990s...
in 1989
1989 IBF World Championships
-Medalists:- Men's singles :- Women's singles :- Men's doubles :- Women's doubles :- Mixed doubles :-References:***...
. In 1988 he also won the Olympic exhibition event in Seoul (badminton became an official Olympic sport at the next games in Barcelona
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
). In 1989 he added the venerable All-England Championships
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
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 JianhuaZhao Jianhua
Zhao Jianhua is a Chinese former badminton player who competed internationally from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. Generally rated among the most talented players that China has produced, he was admired for his speed and power as well as for his deception and technique...
and Xiong Guobao
Xiong Guobao
Xiong Guobao is a former elite level badminton player from China who won numerous international singles titles in the late 1980s. Noted for his solid, consistent play, Xiong rarely suffered lopsided defeats. His titles included the United States , Japan , Hong Kong , Malaysian , Thailand , French ,...
, Yang Yang played an important role in making China the major world badminton superpower. His play was instrumental in China's consecutive Thomas Cup
Thomas Cup
The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body...
(men's world team) titles in 1986, 1988, and 1990. Players of his generation set the foundation for the current Chinese world badminton players.
Retirement
In 1991, he retired as a player and started coaching in Malaysia. In the very next year, he guided MalaysiaMalaysia national badminton team
The Malaysia national badminton team is a badminton team that plays for Malaysia in international competitions. The men's team has enjoyed immense success, having won the Thomas Cup five times, most recently in 1992...
to its first Thomas Cup victory in 25 years, the only occasion since 1967
1967 Thomas Cup
The 1967 Thomas Cup was the 7th tournament of Thomas Cup, the most important men's badminton team competition in the world. The inter-zone matches and Challenge Round finale were held in Jakarta, Indonesia....
in which neither Indonesia
Indonesia national badminton team
The Indonesia national badminton team represents Indonesia in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia, PBSI , the governing body for badminton in Indonesia...
nor China
China national badminton team
The China national badminton team represents the People's Republic of China in international badminton team competitions and is controlled by the Badminton Association of the People's Republic of China, the governing body for badminton in 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.
Major achievements
| Rank | Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | |||
| 1 | Singles | 1987 1987 IBF World Championships -Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:* *... |
Beijng, CHN |
| 1 | Singles | 1989 1989 IBF World Championships -Medalists:- Men's singles :- Women's singles :- Men's doubles :- Women's doubles :- Mixed doubles :-References:***... |
Jakarta, INA |
| 3 | Singles | 1985 1985 IBF World Championships The 4th IBF World Championships were held in Calgary, Canada, from June 10 to June 16, 1985.-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal account:-External links:*... |
Calgary, CAN |
| Thomas Cup Thomas Cup The Thomas Cup, sometimes called the World Men's Team Championships, is an international badminton competition among teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation , the sport's global governing body... |
|||
| 1 | Team | 1986 | Jakarta, INA |
| 1 | Team | 1988 | Kuala Lumpur, MAS |
| 1 | Team | 1990 1990 Thomas & Uber Cup The 1990 Thomas & Uber Cup was the 16th tournament of the Thomas Cup, and the 13th tournament of the Uber Cup, which are the major international team competitions in world badminton... |
Tokyo, JPN |
| World Cup Badminton World Cup The World Cup in badminton was an annual tournament organized by the International Management Group . It was held between 1981 and 1997. After the tournament ceased for seven years, Badminton World Federation decided to bring it back as invitational tournament in 2005... |
|||
| 1 | Singles | 1988 | THA |
| 1 | Singles | 1989 | CHN |
| International Opens | |||
| 1 | Singles | 1985, 1986 | Hong Kong Open Hong Kong Open (badminton) The Hong Kong Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Hong Kong since 1982, but it did not take place annually. It is organized by Hong Kong Badminton Association and it became one of the Super Series tournament in 2007. In 2008, Wang Chen became the first home player to win the Hong Kong... |
| 1 | Singles | 1986 | World Grand Prix finals World Badminton Grand Prix The World Badminton Grand Prix was an annual badminton tournament organized by the International Badminton Federation to crown the best badminton player of the year. The tournament only invited the top eight players in the year-end world rankings. The tournament started in 1983, with the last... |
| 1 | Singles | 1986, 1989 | Japan Open Japan Open (badminton) The Japan Open is an annual badminton tournament held in Japan. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007.-Past winners:... |
| 1 | Singles | 1987 | Swedish Open Swedish Open (badminton) The Swedish Open was an open badminton tournament that was annually held from 1956 to 1999 after which the organizer, Svenska Badmintonförbundet, could no longer find a suitable sponsor. To some extent it has been replaced by the Swedish International Stockholm tournament.-Winners:... |
| 1 | Singles | 1987 | Malaysia Open Malaysia Open (badminton) The Malaysia Open is an annual badminton event that commonly held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament has been held since 1937 and has been played in different locations such as Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang, Selangor, Kuantan.... |
| 1 | Singles | 1987 | Indonesia Open Indonesia Open (badminton) The Indonesia Open in an annual badminton tournament organized by Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia and held in Indonesia since 1982. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournament in 2007 and got the Premier Super Series status in 2011.... |
| 1 | Singles | 1988 | Singapore Open Singapore Open (badminton) The Singapore Open is an badminton event that has been held in Singapore annually since 1990, and which is now part of the BWF Super Series tournament that began 2007.... |
| 1 | Singles | 1989 | All England Open All England Open Badminton Championships The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898... |