Tam Kai Chuen and Ma Che Kong, former HK players work as coaches (as do a most of the others). A couple will start badminton retail shops.
- I thought YY was from Sichuan, the " Pa Bu La, La Bu Pa, Bu Pa La" province and Zhao and Wu Wen Kai and Wu Wen Ching from Jiansu?
I am not sure. I can say the base of YY is Jiangsu. I thought he was leader in Badminton Team of Jiangsu. His Club is in Nanjing Jiangsu now.
Gosh, this is one name I haven't heard of in a long long time ever since Thomas Cup 1992 when Foo Kok Keong beat him in the second singles in the SF. If I remember clearly, he and Bao Chunlai looked alike. He isn't as famous as the other singles players of his time, namely the great Zhao Jianhua, Alan Budi Kusuma etc. I wonder what's up with him now.
- Bet you all of them are in the same club. Yang Yang is always trying to help Zhao and Wu is Zhao's brother in law. There was an interview with Yang Yang on Astro AEC last Thursday. Maybe that will throw some light.
any news about Gong ZhiChou? She used to be such a great badminton player! and she just disappeared after the Sydney Olympic.
Gong Zhichao is a student who majored Business in Hunan University China. Also she is a leader in Badminton Team of Hunan. She will play match for Hunan Province-her hometown.
Xiang Guo Bao?? Anybody remember Xiang Guo Bao ?? if i remember correctly China's second singles in Thomas Cup late 80s,90s below are my list of players... late 80s, early 90s (good time for badminton, +Malaysia won Thomas Cup 1992) China 1) Yang Yang (the star with all the qualities, 95%, 95% of the time) 2) Xiang Guo Bao (Mr Dependable, great defensive & rally player) 3) Zhao Jian Hua (great but erratic 110%, 10% of the time) 1D) Tian Bing Yi-Li Yong Bo (2nd best to Park/Kim) 2D) - can't remember!! Malaysia - Misbun Sidek - Foo Kok Keong (my fav. he'll be diving here & there.. sheer grit) - Rashid Sidek - Kwan Yoke Meng - Razif/Jalani Sidek (proud of them .. but only no 3 ) - Cheah Soon Kit with Ong Beng Teong/Soo Beng Kiang/Yap Kim Hock Indo. - Icuk Sugiato - Joko - Ardi Wiranata - Alan Budi - Eddy Hartono/Rudy Gunawan (no 4, but a good fight with Razif/Jalani) - Ricky/Rexy Korea - Park Joo Bong/Kim Moon Soo (no 1 all time) Denmark - Morten Frost (Supported him coz my dad goes for China players so i'll go for him)
That is really nostalgia man. You'e just listed out the late 80s - 90s era badminton players. *sniff* ASTEC = Alan Susi Tec
Zhao Jianhua came to Singapore as a badminton coach and was once the national coach. When his contract expired with the SBA, he found employment with the See Hoy Chan Group in their Property Division so that he could continue to coach part time with the Singapore Team. It appears that the See Hoy Chan family also likes badminton and readily accepted Zhao as a member of their family business. Zhao was given a great deal of liberty not only to coach but also to pursue his studies in business administration. I don't think Zhao spent much time with his chicken rice business as he was still under employment with SYC. With a small group of mainly badminton friends, he invested in it as a business proposition. He was also featured as guest commentator in some IBF recognized tournaments, like the Singapore Open. His main objective was to be able to run a badminton academy in Singapore with the government's blessing. He even donated a trophy to initiate an inter-club tournament. But, alas, I guess he failed to find sufficient support for his pet venture and was forced to return to China early this year to be nearer his wife and young child. I had a paper clipping from the Straits Times dated Feb 15, 1999, which quoted Zhao as saying: "The kind of training and discipline I was subjected to when I was young would scare most young people in Singapore. But that's the difference between Singapore and China. Badminton then was a way to make a name and relative wealth for myself. So no matter how hard the training was, we would just grit our teeth and bear with it, thinking of a better tomorrow ahead. I grew up in a sports academy - living, breathing and eating badminton. There is no easy slution for Singapore. This is the environment and culture here. Bringing foreigh players would help. But you must have sound short-term and long-term plans. You cannot always rely on imported players. It is possible for Singapore to reach the Thomas Cup final but it will not be easy." Imagine what young players Singapore can turn out if Zhao was successful in starting an academy here! It is just unfortunate that Zhao's timing was wrong for the government already has plans for a Sports School then and this school has included badminton as one of the elite sports which started operations in January this year. Apparently, Zhao is now helping his brother-in-law at his badminton academy in China. So Zhao's connection with Singapore has been severed, at least for now!
Yupp... that's the name Anybody knows where he is now?? Also just remembered, Paul Erik Hoya Larsen (or something like that..) great player as well..
This thread is about ex-pro players and what they do for employment after retirement. Please do not hijack the thread into reminiscences of past players. Thank you Moderator
i heard zhao jianhua returned to china, and opened several chicken restaurants. also, dong jiong opened three badminton clubs in beijing with his pretty wife who was a former volley ball player.
also, dong jiong opened three badminton clubs in beijing with his pretty wife who was a former volley ball player.[/QUOTE] I thought dong jiong is not married yet?? I've recently read an interview from chinabadminton that he is still a bachelor??
I thought dong jiong is not married yet?? I've recently read an interview from chinabadminton that he is still a bachelor??[/QUOTE] oh i just saw an interview with him yesterday online. he said he and his gf broke up cuz hes extremely busy with all his clubs and have no time for relationships. he barely has time with his parents even though they all live in beijing. when the reporter kept asking him about his lose at atlanta olympics, he became frustrated and refused to answer the question. i guess he was still upset that he lost the olympic gold medal.
