Early years
Born in Lishui, Zhejiang, China, on January 4, 1964, Li Lingwei weighed only at birth. Worried about Li’s health, her mother encouraged her to participate in non-contact sports such as badminton but Li indiscriminately loved sports. During her childhood, Li impressed everyone with sporting results such as finishing in first place in the 400-meter run. In 1975 the 11-year-old Li Lingwei was selected to the Zhejiang Provincial Badminton Team; five years later in 1980, she won the National Youth Badminton singles competition and the adult group's doubles championship. After that, she was selected to the national badminton team. In the national team she learned both physical and mental skills under coach Chen Fushou. She entered the 1981 Alba QuartzCareer
Athletic career
A brilliant all-around player whose court coverage and net play were particularly impressive, she maintained a narrow won/lost edge on her teammate, rival, and sometimes doubles partner Han Aiping. They dominated international women's badminton during most of the 1980s, each winning the then biennialCoaching career
After retiring in 1989, Li entered the University of Hangzhou to transfer her skills from playing to coaching. In 1991 Li Ling Wei returned to China's national badminton team, serving as assistant coach of the national team and, starting in December 1994, as head coach of the women's team. She coached the Chinese women's badminton team that won the 1998 Uber Cup Championship. Over the course of her coaching career, Li cultivated top players such asAdministrative career
Li is a strong advocate of women’s rights and has been heavily involved in improving women’s participation and fair representation in world sports bodies such as the BWF and the IOC. Li has stated that, “as women, we have to work harder because we have so many roles to play – mother, daughter or wife – so most of us are in a very challenging situation. We have to work harder than men, otherwise we can’t achieve our goals.” She believed that in comparison to other sports, “badminton is achieving a lot of positive goals, in women’s participation for example, and with equal prize money. And it is the same with participation at events." She became the Vice-Chair of the Women’s Commission of the BWF in 2009. Li has also been serving as the Deputy Chair of the International Relations Commission of the BWF. Despite being heavily involved with multiple associations, Li still found the time to work as the Deputy Director in the International Relations Department for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee (BOCOG) from 2003 to 2008. On May 12, 2002, when she was Chinese Badminton Association Vice-President, Li was elected as IBF member of Council, becoming one of only three women in the council. During her tenure she was also admitted to a doctoral degree at Beijing Sport University, specializing in sociology. In 2003 Li was elected as a member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and became the only member of the CPPCC National Committee to have been a badminton player. In the same year she was transferred to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee's Sports Department as a second-level project expert, and then transferred to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee's International Liaison Department. After the 2012 Beijing Olympic Games she was promoted to the deputy director of the China National Sports General Administration Table Tennis Badminton Management Center, and returned to the Chinese badminton team again after 10 years. In December 2010 Li became the deputy director of the Network Management Center of the State Sports General Administration of China, replacing the retired Gao Shenyang. Li never competed in the Olympics because badminton did not become an Olympic sport until 1992. However, she was chosen as one of the five retired athletes to carry the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony of theAchievements
World Championships
''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles''World Cup
''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles''Asian Games
''Women's singles''International Tournaments (1 titles, 1 runners-up)
''Women's singles''IBF Grand Prix (28 titles, 7 runners-up)
The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006. ''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles''Invitation tournament
''Women's singles'' ''Women's doubles''Personal honor
Li won the national award for " Best Athlete" in 1980 and the "Best International Athlete" title in 1985. She was awarded the title of "Sports Elite" and "International Sports Elite" in 1980 and 1985 respectively, and was awarded the "Sports Medal of Honor" by the State Sports Commission seven times. In addition, she has been selected as the "Top Ten National Athletes" for four consecutive times since 1984. In 1989 she was also named as one of China's outstanding athletes in the past 40 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. In terms of honors in the badminton world, Li was awarded the international badminton Distinguished Service Award, the "Outstanding Achievement Award" by the International Badminton Federation in 1994; and was inducted into the Badminton Hall of Fame 4 years later in 1998. Li was a torchbearer at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games she was a flag bearer. For her Olympic involvement, the IOC honored her with the Women and Sport Award in March 2008. She also received Medals of Honor of World Labor Day, and Women’s Day, in China. For her coaching contributions, Li was named one of the National “Top 10 Coaches of the Year” in 1997 and 1998. Li is a representative of the Ninth National People's Congress, a member of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress, and a member of the Tenth and Eleventh National People's Political Consultative Conference.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Lingwei 1964 births Asian Games medalists in badminton Badminton players at the 1982 Asian Games Badminton players at the 1986 Asian Games Badminton players from Zhejiang Chinese female badminton players International Olympic Committee members Living people People from Lishui World No. 1 badminton players Asian Games gold medalists for China Asian Games silver medalists for China Medalists at the 1982 Asian Games Medalists at the 1986 Asian Games