Zhao Jianhua (Chinese: 赵剑华) (born 21 April 1965) is a Chinese former badminton player who competed internationally from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. He was admired for his speed and power as well as for his deception and technique.

Zhao Jianhua
赵剑华
Personal information
CountryChina
Born (1965-04-21) 21 April 1965 (age 59)
Nantong, Jiangsu, China
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
HandednessLeft
Men's singles
Highest ranking1
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  China
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Copenhagen Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Beijing Men's singles
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1987 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1988 Bangkok Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1990 Bandung–Jakarta Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1991 Macau Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Jakarta Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Guangzhou Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Guangzhou Men's singles
Sudirman Cup
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Copenhagen Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Birmingham Mixed team
Thomas Cup
Gold medal – first place 1988 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1990 Tokyo Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Seoul Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1990 Beijing Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1990 Beijing Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1986 Seoul Men's team
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 1985 Kuala Lumpur Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1983 Calcutta Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1985 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1987 Semarang Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1989 Shanghai Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Calcutta Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Calcutta Men's doubles

Career

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Zhao won the 1991 IBF World Championships in singles, beating Alan Budikusuma in the final. He also won a bronze medal at the 1987 IBF World Championships. He is a two-time winner of the prestigious All England singles title (1985, 1990), and won the quadrennial Asian Games title on both occasions (1986, 1990) that he contested it, defeating his fellow countryman Yang Yang in the final on each occasion. He was a member of China's world champion Thomas Cup (men's international) teams in 1988, and 1990.

Zhao Jianhua competed in badminton at the 1992 Summer Olympics in men's singles and was seeded #1. In the first round he had a bye, and in the second round he defeated Darren Hall from Great Britain. In the round of 16 Zhao beat Deepankar Bhattacharya from India and in quarterfinals he lost to Hermawan Susanto from Indonesia 15–2, 14–17, 17–14. He is currently the head coach of Guangxi Province Badminton Club.

Achievements

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World Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1987 Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China   Morten Frost 12–15, 11–15   Bronze
1991 Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark   Alan Budikusuma 18–13, 15–4   Gold

World Cup

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1986 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia   Icuk Sugiarto 14–18, 10–15   Bronze
1987 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Yang Yang 6–15, 15–2, 15–12   Gold
1988 National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand   Yang Yang 5–15, 6–15   Silver
1989 Guangzhou Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China   Yang Yang 9–15, 15–7, 13–18   Bronze
1990 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia   Wu Wenkai 6–15, 7–15   Silver
1991 Macau Forum, Macau   Ardy Wiranata 15–12, 7–15, 10–15   Silver
1992 Guangdong Gymnasium, Guangzhou, China   Hermawan Susanto 15–13, 4–15, 2–15   Bronze

Asian Games

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1986 Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea   Yang Yang 15–9, 17–16   Gold
1990 Beijing Gymnasium, Beijing, China   Yang Yang 15–10, 15–11   Gold

Asian Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1983 Shanghai, China   Eddy Kurniawan 15–18, 15–6, 15–18   Bronze
1985 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Yang Yang 15–10, 5–15, 15–6   Gold

IBF World Grand Prix (9 titles, 8 runners-up)

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The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1985 Japan Open   Han Jian 15–10, 15–3   Winner
1985 Swedish Open   Han Jian 14–18, 15–1, 15–18   Runner-up
1985 All England Open   Morten Frost 6–15, 15–10, 18–15   Winner
1986 Malaysia Open   Misbun Sidek 15–10, 15–13   Winner
1987 Japan Open   Xiong Guobao 15–12, 13–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1987 China Open   Xiong Guobao 15–10, 8–15, 15–6   Winner
1987 Thailand Open   Eddy Kurniawan 15–10, 15–10   Winner
1988 China Open   Ardy Wiranata 15–10, 15–8   Winner
1989 Malaysia Open   Xiong Guobao 12–15, 3–15   Runner-up
1989 Denmark Open   Morten Frost 12–15, 13–15   Runner-up
1990 All England Open   Joko Suprianto 15–4, 15–1   Winner
1990 Singapore Open   Foo Kok Keong 15–8, 10–15, 9–15   Runner-up
1991 China Open   Alan Budikusuma 15–7, 5–15, 12–15   Runner-up
1991 World Grand Prix Finals   Wu Wenkai 15–9, 5–15, 15–7   Winner
1992 All England Open   Liu Jun 13–15, 13–15   Runner-up
1992 Japan Open   Ardy Wiranata 15–11, 7–15, 10–15   Runner-up
1992 Singapore Open   Ardy Wiranata 15–3, 15–1   Winner

References

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