Zhou Mi (badminton)

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Zhou Mi
周蜜
Personal information
Born (1979-02-18) 18 February 1979 (age 47)
Nanning, Guangxi, China
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Sport
SportBadminton
HandednessRight
Women's singles
Highest ranking1
BWF profile

Zhou Mi (Chinese: 周蜜; pinyin: Zhōu Mì; Jyutping: zau1 mat6; born 18 February 1979) is a Chinese badminton player. During much of her career she represented the People's Republic of China, but since 2007 she has represented Hong Kong which has a sports program and teams independent from those of the mainland. In 2010, she received a 2-year ban, for failing a drugs test.[1]

Career

Since 1998 Zhou has won more than twenty international singles titles on the world circuit and has achieved number one world rankings at various times. She was a silver medalist behind compatriot Gong Ruina at the 2001 IBF World Championships and was a bronze medalist at the 2003 Championships. She won women's singles at the quadrennial Asian Games in 2002, defeating Gong Ruina in the final. Zhou is a three-time finalist at the prestigious All-England Championships where she captured the title in 2003. She played singles for world champion Chinese Uber Cup (women's international) teams in 2002 and 2004.

Olympic controversy

At the 2004 Athens Olympics Zhou reached the semifinal round where she was eliminated from gold medal contention by fellow countrywoman Zhang Ning. She then defeated Gong Ruina in the playoff for the bronze medal. The circumstances behind Zhou's semifinal defeat are controversial, however, because China's national coach Li Yongbo later confirmed rumors that he had instructed Zhou not to fight hard after she had dropped the first game to Zhang.[2][3] His rationale was that a fresh Zhang Ning would have a better chance to defeat a non-Chinese opponent, the Netherlands' Mia Audina, in the final.

"Retirement" and comeback

Whether the Olympic episode or subsequent injury and poor performance was the primary cause, Zhou apparently retired from badminton during the 2005 season. She played no tournaments in 2006 but secured residence in Hong Kong through its Quality Migration program. Zhou then reemerged on the world badminton circuit during the 2007 season.[4] From a weak start at the Singapore Open her results dramatically improved to the point where she had regained a number one world ranking as of the end of the year 2008.[5] Since launching her comeback Zhou's titles have included the New Zealand and Philippines Opens in 2007, and the South Korea, India, Macau Opens, and China Masters in 2008. In December, Zhou ended the 2008 season by winning the BWF Super Series Masters Finals, the biggest prize money event in the sport.

Positive clenbuterol test and two years ban

The BWF announced on 4 September 2010 that a BWF Doping Hearing conducted in Copenhagen on Monday 23 August has banned Zhou Mi for 2 years from participation in badminton, following an Adverse Analytical Finding. A sample taken from her in late June as part of the BWF's 'out-of-competition' testing programme. Zhou tested positive to clenbuterol, a Class 1 Anabolic Agent on the WADA Prohibited List of substances.[6]

On 27 October 2011, more than one year after she was handed a two-year ban for testing positive for clenbuterol, former badminton world No. 1 Zhou Mi reiterated her innocence. "At the time of the test, I was not competing or preparing to compete. There was not even the slightest reason or incentive for me to take any performance-enhancing substance," said Zhou. Regardless of the incident, Zhou, now 32, added it was time for her to retire from the sport. Clenbuterol can be consumed from eating contaminated food.[7]

Achievements

Olympic Games

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2004 Goudi Olympic Hall, Athens, Greece Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–2, 8–11, 11–6 Bronze Bronze

World Championships

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2001 Palacio de Deportes de San Pablo, Seville, Spain Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 9–11, 4–11 Silver Silver
2003 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 2–11, 4–11 Bronze Bronze

Asian Games

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2002 Gangseo Gymnasium, Busan, South Korea Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–1, 11–1 Gold Gold

Asian Championships

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2002 Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 6–11, 11–3, 11–8 Gold Gold
2010 Siri Fort Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India Error creating thumbnail: Liu Xin 15–21, 18–21 Bronze Bronze

East Asian Games

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2009 Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Hong Kong Hong Kong Yip Pui Yin 21–15, 13–21, 10–17 retired Silver Silver

World Junior Championships

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1996 Silkeborg Hallerne, Silkeborg, Denmark Error creating thumbnail: Zhu Feng Error creating thumbnail: Cheng Rui
Error creating thumbnail: Gao Ling
8–15, 14–17 Bronze Bronze

Asian Junior Championships

Girls' singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1997 Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 5–11, 5–11 Silver Silver

Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1997 Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines Error creating thumbnail: Yu Hua Malaysia Chor Hooi Yee
Malaysia Lim Pek Siah
10–15, 6–15 Bronze Bronze

BWF Superseries

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[8] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.[9] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2008 Korea Open Error creating thumbnail: Lu Lan 21–18, 15–21, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Tine Rasmussen 19–21, 17–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2008 Japan Open Error creating thumbnail: Wang Yihan 19–21, 21–17, 15–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2008 China Masters Error creating thumbnail: Wang Lin 21–19, 19–21, 21–16 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 Denmark Open Error creating thumbnail: Wang Lin 18–21, 10–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2008 World Superseries Masters Finals Hong Kong Wang Chen 21–14, 21–18 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2009 Malaysia Open Error creating thumbnail: Tine Rasmussen 17–21, 21–15, 16–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2009 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Xie Xingfang 21–19, 18–21, 21–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1998 Brunei Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 7–11, 4–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1998 Dutch Open Error creating thumbnail: Yao Jie 10–13, 13–11, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1999 Korea Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–6, 13–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1999 Chinese Taipei Open Error creating thumbnail: Dai Yun 5–11, 8–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1999 Denmark Open Error creating thumbnail: Camilla Martin 11–8, 3–11, 1–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1999 China Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–6, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2000 Thailand Open Error creating thumbnail: Ye Zhaoying 5–11, 0–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2000 Dutch Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–7, 9–11, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2000 Denmark Open Error creating thumbnail: Camilla Martin 1–11, 11–6, 11–7 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2000 World Grand Prix Finals Error creating thumbnail: Gong Zhichao 7–5, 5–7, 7–1, 7–0 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2001 All England Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Zhichao 7–11, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2001 Japan Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–8, 11–0 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2001 Malaysia Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 3–7, 2–7, 4–7 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2001 China Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 7–2, 7–0, 7–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 Japan Open Error creating thumbnail: Dai Yun 7–1, 7–0, 7–1 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 11–6, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2003 All England Open Error creating thumbnail: Xie Xingfang 11–6, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2003 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 0–11, 8–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2003 Malaysia Open Error creating thumbnail: Camilla Martin 11–1, 7–11, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2003 Denmark Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 11–4, 10–13, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2003 China Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 13–10, 11–1 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 All England Open Error creating thumbnail: Gong Ruina 7–11, 7–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2004 Malaysia Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 11–9, 7–11, 8–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2004 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 8–11, 1–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 Singapore Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 5–11, 7–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 China Masters Error creating thumbnail: Zhang Ning 3–11, 11–5, 3–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2007 New Zealand Open Japan Chie Umezu 21–13, 21–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2007 Thailand Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhu Lin 22–20, 5–21, 14–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2007 Philippines Open Error creating thumbnail: Zhu Jingjing 21–18, 21–12 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 India Open Error creating thumbnail: Lu Lan 21–14, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 Macau Open Malaysia Julia Wong Pei Xian 21–13, 21–19 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2008 New Zealand Open Error creating thumbnail: Rachel Hindley 21–10, 21–15 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2009 Philippines Open Error creating thumbnail: Wang Xin 10–21, 21–12, 21–23 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2010 Malaysia Grand Prix Gold Hong Kong Yip Pui Yin 16–21, 21–14, 19–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1999 Dutch Open Error creating thumbnail: Tang Chunyu Error creating thumbnail: Chen Lin
Error creating thumbnail: Jiang Xuelian
9–15, 4–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1996 Brunei Open Error creating thumbnail: Yang Ming Error creating thumbnail: Sandiarto
Error creating thumbnail: Vera Octavia
13–18, 12–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1999 French International Error creating thumbnail: Aparna Popat 11–0, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2007 Miami Pan Am International Spain Lucía Tavera 21–7, 21–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

Record against selected opponents

Record against year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semi-finalists, and Olympic quarter-finalists.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Badminton World Federation - News". Archived from the original on 2010-09-07.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2008-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Miami Lakes Internationals - Zhou Mi back in Business Archived 2018-03-24 at the Wayback Machine, Badzine.net, 23 April 2007
  5. ^ ":: Badminton World Federation ::". Archived from the original on August 14, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  6. ^ Zhou Mi banned for two years Archived 2016-09-20 at the Wayback Machine Badminton World Federation. Saturday, 04 September 2010.
  7. ^ Former No1 Zhou reiterates innocence over positive drug test The Standard. Friday, 28 October 2011
  8. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  9. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". www.ibadmintonstore.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Zhou Mi Head to Head". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 8 March 2020.