Olympic Badminton history: Records, past winners, best moments, year-by …

Badminton News

Tokyo, 2020

China ultimately finished with the biggest haul, but it wasn’t the golden sweep that the rankings foreshadowed. 

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen‘s play was perfect as he managed to win every game en route to the finals. He ultimately dethroned 2016 Olympic champion Chen Long in the men’s singles division. 

In women’s singles, China’s Chen Yufei defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu-Ying in a close three-game match. Tai’s medal was the first-ever Olympic silver in badminton for Chinese Taipei.

The doubles events saw the greatest badminton upsets in Tokyo. Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin took home the gold against China in a swift 34 minutes in men’s doubles. Indonesia won its first gold medal at the Tokyo Games when Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu defeated China in women’s doubles.

The mixed doubles event was a China vs. China match, and Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping took home the gold. 

Rio, 2016

China missed the women’s singles podium for the first time since 1996 after Li Xuerui, the London Olympic champion, lost against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the bronze-medal match. Reigning world champion Carolina Marin won Spain its first Olympic badminton medal, a gold, beating India’s P.V. Sindhu.

In the men’s singles, reigning world champion Chen Long of China defeated Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, giving Wei his third consecutive Olympic silver.

China’s Fu Haifeng defended his gold in the men’s doubles alongside Zhang Nan, who won gold in the mixed doubles at the London Games. Zhang brought home a bronze medal as well in the mixed doubles with Zhao Yunlei, the 2012 Olympic champion in the event.

Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi of Japan took gold in the women’s doubles.

London, 2012

Unfortunately, badminton at the 2012 Games was marred by controversy: women’s doubles teams from China, South Korea and Indonesia were disqualified for blatantly throwing matches in order to manipulate the round-robin draw. Regardless, China once again ended up in the top spot, winning gold in each of the five major categories. 

For the second time, badminton legends Lin “Super” Dan and Lee Chong Wei met in a dramatic men’s singles final. Despite early signs that Lee could overcome his rival, Lin ultimately won  after a tense 19-19 score in the third game.

Beijing, 2008

Appropriately, China won big with eight total medals when the country’s second-largest city hosted the Games (three gold, two silver and three bronze). Lin “Super” Dan earned the top spot over Malaysian rival Lee Chong Wei in their first Olympic final match-up, while Zhang Ning took home her second gold in women’s singles.

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Park has made his mark

Badminton News

ODENSE: From turning a weakened squad to a powerhouse over a 20-year span, Park Joo-bong can leave Japan with his head held high as the most successful head coach.

And a contented Joo-bong, who will turn 60 in December, is happy to leave behind his legacy.

Joo-bong’s contract ends in March next year but Japan’s new leadership have not been extended it.

Ohori Hitoshi will be the new supremo starting January while Joo-bong will stay on as an advisor before leaving in March.

Joo-bong said he cherished his stint in Japan.

“As a player, I’ve won every title for South Korea except the Thomas Cup. But I got to taste the Thomas Cup success with Japan as a coach. It’s all complete now,” said Joo-bong.

Historic: Japan’s head coach Park Joo-bong poses with 2020 All-England women’s doubles winners Yuki Fukushima (right) and Sayaka Hirota.

“Japan also won their first Uber Cup title and their first Olympics gold through the women’s doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“These are priceless achievements. Japan grew gradually from having just a small pool of players to a huge squad that kept winning titles.

“I must say that I was there at the right time in Japan. I was fortunate as we had exceptional talents like Kento Momota, Nozomi Okuhara, Akane Yamaguchi, and many top men and women and mixed doubles pairs.

The only blemish in his almost spotless career with Japan is the team’s failure to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and that will always be his sore point.

“Kento was involved in an accident in Malaysia in 2020 just before the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Joo-bong.

“Due to Covid, the Olympic Games in Tokyo was postponed by a year and played in an empty stadium at home – that was sad. We ended our campaign with one bronze (through Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino).

Joo-bong is not the only one leaving the set-up, as several senior players are expected to retire with few new faces stepping in. There are also changes in partnerships.

Watanabe for instance made his maiden appearance with his young partner Maya Taguchi at the ongoing Denmark Open while Higashino will focus in the women’s doubles with Ayako Sakuramoto.

“I wish the Japan team all the best,” said Joo-bong, who also thanked the former leadership for giving him the full support to run the show, without interfering in all his decision making processes in regards to training and coaching.

What’s next for Joo-bong?

“20 years is a long time to be with a team, but I’ve enjoyed my stay. I’m satisfied. I’m looking at few options right now and see which suits me the best,” he added.

From a multiple Olympic Games medallist and world champion to a renowned coach, Joo-bong will continue to be the role model for many in years to come.

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Joo-bong is leaving Japan, will he arrive in Malaysia?

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: One of the most successful coaches Park Joo-bong is leaving Japan but the big question is – will he arrive in Malaysia?

South Korean legend Joo-bong’s contract that runs until December has not been extended.

In fact, Japan BA have named Ohori Hitoshi, the father of Ohori Aya, to take over the post from January onwards.

Joo-bong, who joined Japan after the 2004 Athens Olympics, had transformed Japan from a sub-standard side into one of the badminton powerhouses through his good leadership and management skills and excellent relationship with his players.

Under him, former men’s singles player Kento Momota soared by winning two world titles. In fact, they had many champions in all events, making Japan one of the teams with great depth.

Japan won their first Olympics gold through women’s doubles Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

They also won other medals through women’s singles Nozomi Okuhara (2016 Rio, bronze), women’s doubles Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa (2012 London, silver), mixed doubles Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris, bronze), women’s doubles Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (2024 Paris, bronze).

Under Joo-bong, Malaysian coaches Jeremy Gan and Tan Kim Her also made headways as mixed and men’s doubles coaches.

The news on Joo-bong comes just as Malaysian BA had announced that they would not extend Hendrawan’s contract after the Indonesian had served for almost 15 years.

They have also moved Datuk Tey Seu Boc into the junior side, opening up the door to hire a new head coach for the men’s singles department.

Will BAM entice Joo-bong again? Will Joo-bong even consider of returning here?

Joo-bong was in Malaysia from 2000-2003. He will turn 60 on Dec 5.

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History-makers Pearly-Thinaah smash into Olympics semis

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: Pumped-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah put up a fantastic show to become Malaysia’s first women’s doubles pair to reach the semi-finals at the Olympics on Thursday (Aug 1).

The top Malaysian pair outclassed Kim So-young-Kong Hee-yong of South Korea 21-12, 21-13 in 39 minutes in the quarter-finals at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle.

Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei were the only other Malaysian women pair who have reached the quarter-final stage before but they were beaten by eventual gold medallists Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

However, Pearly-Thinaah did not let slip a golden opportunity as they put up a polished performance against the off-form South Koreans to also become the first Malaysia’s representatives in the semi-final stage in Paris.

They will face top seeds and world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan of China in the semis.

They have beaten the Chinese pair once at this year’s second round of the All-England.

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Pearly-Thinaah can do better than us, says ex-quarter-finalist

Badminton News

VIVIAN Hoo remembers the joy she felt when she and partner Woon Khe Wei became the first Malaysian women’s doubles shuttlers to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

However, their dream of glory was dashed by Japan’s eventual gold medallists Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi, but not before a tough three-game battle.

“When the game finished, I remember I felt like crying. Although we lost, we had given our best already.,” she said.

Vivian is back at the Olympics in Paris, but as a spectator now – and nothing would give her more joy than seeing the current women doubles pair of Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah surpass her achievement.

Debutants Pearly-Thinaah became only the second women’s doubles pair after Vivian-Khe Wei to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympics yesterday.

They held their nerves to clinch a superb 21-18, 21-9 upset victory over Indonesia’s world No. 9 Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in their last group match at Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle.

The Malaysians world No 13 pair came in second in Group A, just like Vivian-Khe Wei back in 2016.

It was a fantastic feat as they were in the toughest group in the competition, with China’s world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan also there. Pearly-Thinaah were, in fact, the lowest ranked pair in their group.

Vivian, who was cheering her compatriots at the stadium, has now called on the pair to create history by making it beyond the last eight.

“I went to Paris with my cousin and friends and I was very excited although I’m not the one playing,” said Vivian.

“I hope Pearly-Thinaah can go better than us and even win a medal for Malaysia. Anything can happen in the Olympics.”

The Malaysian pair narrowly went down 17-21, 20-22 to Qingchen-Yifan in their first match before recovering well to pull off a stunning 18-21, 21-15, 21-16 win over Japan’s former two-time world champions and world No. 6 Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara.

With the Chinese pair beating Matsumoto-Nagahara 21-16, 21-15 earlier yesterday, the Malaysians just needed to win to make it into the quarter-finals. And they did it in style, winning in straight games in 43 minutes.

Vivian credited Pearly-Thinaah for handling the enormous pressure. “I think they really handled the pressure well in their last two matches. They were in a very tough group,” said Vivian.

“I’m sure they will have gained confidence to face any pair in the quarters.”

Pearly-Thinaah admitted that it was not easy to control their nerves ahead the crucial clash and were relieved to pull through.

“We already knew the results of the other match and were quite nervous because this was a must-win match for us,” said Thinaah in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

“We have been quite stressed out thinking about today’s (yesterday) game. I think this (the pressure) was even worse than our first two matches. This is a new experience for us.

“In the beginning, it was quite tough for us. We threw points that we should not have.

“But after that, we slowly got back our momentum and confidence.”

Pearly-Thinaah will now face a winner from the other groups in the last eight after a fresh draw for the knockout rounds. But the pair are ready for any test.,

“We came out from a tough group and we have been already preparing for tough matches (from the beginning of the competition),” said Pearly.

“We just want to maintain our momentum.”

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