Source: Chinese Badminton Association
On June 2, Beijing time, the World Badminton Federation announced the 2021 Hall of Fame list. Three of China's best badminton players and Olympic gold medalists: Zhang Ning, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were selected.
According to the BWF, Zhang Ning, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were the leaders of China's races that dominated the tournaments from the 2000s to the early 2010s. During this time, they demonstrated excellent skills, talent, perseverance and sportsmanship.
The president of the World Badminton Federation, Paul Erik Hoyer, praised their brilliant achievements in their careers and defined them as important figures in the history of sport. "Zhang Ning, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng have been iconic figures in recent years," Says Hoyer. "They showed amazingly high standards, which helped them win every major title in badminton. Most importantly, the standards they set will always be a challenge for the younger generation that wants to try to catch up with them. I congratulate them on their induction into the World Badminton Federation Hall of Fame. These three great players from China deserve it. ”
Zhang Jun, Chairman of the Chinese Badminton Association, said: It is an honor and pleasure to witness three outstanding athletes elected to the World Badminton Hall of Fame, sincere congratulations to them, and proud of their contributions to badminton.
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Zhang Jun said: "The Hall of Fame was established in 1996, 10 years ago like them, I am honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which has a great motivating effect on my future development, sincerely hope that they, as outstanding representatives of the Chinese badminton community, will continue to exert their spirit of hard work and contribute to the development of badminton in China and the world, and also hope that all athletes will follow their example, with love and gratitude, bravely go forward and bravely climb the peak!" ”
Zhang Ning, the women's singles champion at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was very happy to hear the news of her induction into the Hall of Fame. She said: "Thank you to the BWF for giving me this highest honor in the badminton world, thank you for the recognition of me, thank you for the love of the fans. At the same time, I am also grateful for every mentor I have met in my career, and I am even more grateful for the unremitting efforts I have made for badminton throughout my life. ”
Now Zhang Ning is actively engaged in the training of badminton teenagers, and she said that this honor is a spur to her. "I will pass on the badminton knowledge I have learned to the children, and continue to spread the sportsmanship and Olympic spirit to the children."
From athletes to coaches to today's badminton promoters, for more than 30 years of life with badminton, Zhang Ning admits that he has gained a lot. "Badminton has taught me how to face difficulties, challenge difficulties and overcome difficulties. Through the sport of badminton, I have made many friends, and through the sport of badminton, I have established my own outlook on life. I hope that with our drive, more people will exercise well by playing badminton! At the same time, you can get more happiness from it! ”
Successfully inducted into the Hall of Fame, 2012 London Olympic Men's Doubles Champion Cai Yun said: "I am very happy and excited, and thank the BWF for this honor that is a recognition of my sporting career. Recalling his athlete days, Cai Yun said that the moment when he won the world championship for the first time and the London Olympic championship in 2012 was the most profound for him.
After retiring, Cai Yun is currently focusing on the promotion of youth badminton. He said that this honor is an inspiration to himself, but whether he receives this honor or not, he will continue to promote badminton as always, which is his obligation and responsibility.
Engaged in badminton for more than 30 years, Cai Yun believes that sports can not only bring health and happiness to people, but also inspire their courage to face difficulties. More importantly, it can temper people's minds and improve their abilities in all aspects.
For Fu Haifeng, the men's doubles champion at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, his induction into the BWF Hall of Fame also has a special significance. "It's a very exciting and happy thing for me and an affirmation of my career. Thank you to my friends who have supported and helped me along the way. ”
Fu Haifeng said: "Getting this honor will make me more confident in sports work in the future, as a badminton person, it is also my due responsibility to continuously promote badminton, so that more people love sports and love badminton!" “
Picking up a racket at the age of 6 and becoming involved in badminton for more than 30 years, Fu Haifeng said: "Badminton not only taught me how to face wins and losses in the game, but more importantly, taught me how to face wins and losses in life and on the road of life. Through badminton, I learned to face any difficulties calmly, which is also one of the important lessons in life. ”
Information on Inductees in the Hall of Fame
Zhang Ning
As the "big sister" of the Chinese team, Zhang Ning, in his early 30s, overcame huge home pressure at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to defend his gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, becoming the first player to successfully defend the Olympic women's singles title. An outstanding all-around, she has won almost every major event, including the 2003 World Badminton Championships, and led the Chinese team to victories in the Uber Cup (2004, 2006) and the Sudirman Cup.
In 2003, he won his first world championship at the World Championships in Birmingham, England.
In 2004, she won the Women's Singles Championship at the Athens Olympic Games.
In 2008, she won the Beijing Olympic Women's Singles Championship, becoming the first Olympic badminton singles champion to defend her title. He also served as the standard-bearer of the Chinese delegation at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.
In 2012, as the head coach of the national team women's singles, she led the team to win the women's singles championship and runner-up at the London Olympic Games.
From 2008 to 2018, she served as the women's singles coach of the Chinese badminton team, and after 2018, she began to engage in youth badminton promotion.
Cai Yun
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng achieved unprecedented success in their careers, becoming the only men's doubles pair to win the World Badminton Championships four times. With his outstanding performance in the frontcourt, with Fu Haifeng, Cai Yun won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, and the team gold medals at the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games. Over the past decade, they have also made important contributions to China's overwhelming dominance in the Thomas Cup and Sudirman Cup matches.
From 2006 to 2009 to 2011, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng won the Men's Doubles Championships at the World Championships for four consecutive times.
In 2008, he won the men's doubles runner-up at the Beijing Olympic Games.
In 2012, he won the Men's Doubles Championship at the London Olympic Games, which was also the first time that the Chinese team won the Olympic Men's Doubles Gold Medal.
Since 2016, he has been engaged in the promotion of youth badminton.
Fu Haifeng
The left-handed Fu Haifeng was known for his great power. Paired with Cai Yun's ingenious tactics, the two won four World Championships for the first time, winning gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and two Team Gold medals at the Asian Games. After Cai Yun retired, Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan formed a partnership to win the gold medal for the second consecutive time at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Over the past decade, the men's doubles duo of Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan and Cai Yun has been the backbone of the Chinese team in major team competitions.
From 2006 to 2009 to 2011, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng won the Men's Doubles Championships four times.
In 2016, he won the Men's Doubles championship at the Rio Olympics. Fu Haifeng became the first athlete in history to defend his men's doubles Olympic title.
Since 2017, he has been engaged in the promotion of badminton.