Fu Haifeng (born 23 August 1983) is a Chinese former badminton player. He is regarded as one of the greatest men's doubles players of all time.

Fu Haifeng
傅海峰
Personal information
CountryChina
Born (1983-08-23) 23 August 1983 (age 40)
Jieyang, Guangdong, China
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
HandednessLeft
Men's doubles
Highest ranking1 (7 September 2006[1] with Cai Yun)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Men's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Men's doubles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Madrid Men's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2009 Hyderabad Men's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2010 Paris Men's doubles
Gold medal – first place 2011 London Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Birmingham Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Guangzhou Men's doubles
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2005 Yiyang Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Yiyang Men's doubles
Sudirman Cup
Gold medal – first place 2005 Beijing Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Glasgow Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Guangzhou Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2011 Qingdao Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kuala Lumpur Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Dongguan Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Eindhoven Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2017 Gold Coast Mixed team
Thomas Cup
Gold medal – first place 2004 Jakarta Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Tokyo Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2008 Jakarta Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2012 Wuhan Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 New Delhi Men's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Doha Men's team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Men's team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Men's team
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Chengdu Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Wuhan Men's doubles
BWF profile
Fu Haifeng
Traditional Chinese傅海峰
Simplified Chinese傅海峰

Sport career edit

Combining Fu Haifeng's impressive power with his regular partner Cai Yun's impressive speed, Cai and Fu have been one of the world's leading men's doubles teams since 2004. They have won numerous top tier events on the world circuit including the venerable All England Open Championships in 2005 and 2009 and the BWF World Championships in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Cai and Fu have helped China win five consecutive Thomas Cup (Men's Team World Badminton Championships) (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012) and four consecutive Sudirman Cup (World Team Championships) (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011). Cai and Fu also competed together in the Olympic games 3 times, including the 2004, the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2012 Olympic Games. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2004 in Athens, and in 2008 in Beijing were silver medalists, losing a close final to Indonesia's Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan.

At the 2010 BWF World Championships in Paris, they—being the fifth seed—beat the third seed Danish pair Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen 21–11, 21–18 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they defeated the second seed Indonesian Olympic Champions Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan 21–16, 21–13. In the finals, they overcame the first seed and Malaysian world no. 1 Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 18–21, 21–18, 21–14 to win the world title for the 3rd time. They are the first Men's Doubles pair to achieve this feat.

Cai and Fu went on to win the China Masters Super Series. Being the fifth seed, they first defeated their second seed compatriots Xu Chen and Guo Zhendong 21–11, 21–16 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they made a great comeback against the third seed South Korean rival Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung 20–22, 21–13, 21–17. Cai and Fu then clinched their second China Masters title by defeating the fourth seed South Korean pair Yoo Yeon-seong and Ko Sung-hyun in 2 sets 21–14, 21–19. Cai and Fu won their third title in a row by winning the Yonex Japan Open Super Series. They, being the fifth seed, beat the young Korean Pair Cho Gun-woo and Kwon Yi-goo 21–14, 16–21, 21–12 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they defeated their promising compatriots Zhang Nan and Chai Biao 21–17, 21–16. In the finals, they made a great comeback again against the first seed and Malaysian world no. 1 Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 18–21, 21–14, 21–12 to win their first Japan Open title.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, they defeated Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen in the final to win the gold medal.

Having had 1 Olympic gold medal and 4 World Championship titles, as well as many other titles, Cai and Fu are one of the most successful men's doubles pair in badminton history.

An ancillary badminton achievement of Fu is that while competing in the 2005 Sudirman Cup, one of his smashes was clocked at 332 km/h (206 mph), the fastest propulsion of a shuttle on record.[2] Fu also fired a 303 km/h smash during game 3 of the 2010 BWF World Championships men's doubles final, which was confirmed by the commentator Gillian Clark as the fastest of the tournament. The fastest smash by Fu during the 2011 Sudirman Cup final was clocked at 291 km/h.

In 2014, Fu played with mixed doubles champion Zhang Nan in the All England Super Series. They lost to the Indonesian pair Muhammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan in the quarter finals 21-23 20–22. Later on it, they took revenge at Denmark Open Super Series, and became the champion after beating top seed Korean pair Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong in 2 straight sets in the final.

In 2015, his partnership with Zhang Nan was stable after reaching several Super Series Finals such as Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open, All England as runners-up.

In 2016, they won the Singapore Open Super Series after beating the top seed from Korea Lee/Yoo in 2 straight sets at semi final. Their performance later in several Super Series was not so climatic. They were seeded 4th in the Olympic Games in Rio, as Fu claimed his second gold medal in men's doubles category after beating Malaysian's pair Tan/Goh in 3 sets. He ends his career having reached 3 consecutive finals in the Olympic Games with two different partners, winning gold twice.

Achievements edit

Olympic Games edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2008 Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, Beijing, China   Cai Yun   Markis Kido
  Hendra Setiawan
21–12, 11–21, 16–21   Silver
2012 Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain   Cai Yun   Mathias Boe
  Carsten Mogensen
21–16, 21–15   Gold
2016 Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   Zhang Nan   Goh V Shem
  Tan Wee Kiong
16–21, 21–11, 23–21   Gold

BWF World Championships edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2003 National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom   Cai Yun   Sigit Budiarto
  Candra Wijaya
15–6, 10–15, 9–15   Bronze
2006 Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain   Cai Yun   Robert Blair
  Anthony Clark
21–9, 21–13   Gold
2009 Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, India   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
21–18, 16–21, 28–26   Gold
2010 Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Paris, France   Cai Yun   Koo Kien Keat
  Tan Boon Heong
18–21, 21–18, 21–14   Gold
2011 Wembley Arena, London, England   Cai Yun   Ko Sung-hyun
  Yoo Yeon-seong
24–22, 21–16   Gold
2013 Tianhe Sports Center, Guangzhou, China   Cai Yun   Mohammad Ahsan
  Hendra Setiawan
19–21, 17–21   Bronze

World Cup edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2005 Olympic Park, Yiyang, China   Cai Yun   Sigit Budiarto
  Candra Wijaya
21–11, 21–18   Gold
2006 Olympic Park, Yiyang, China   Cai Yun   Lin Woon Fui
  Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari
15–21, 21–13, 17–21   Bronze

Asian Championships edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2011 Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China   Cai Yun   Hirokatsu Hashimoto
  Noriyasu Hirata
21–12, 21–15   Gold
2016 Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China   Zhang Nan   Li Junhui
  Liu Yuchen
21–23, 19–21   Bronze

BWF Superseries (16 titles, 14 runners-up) edit

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[3] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[4] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2007 All England Open   Cai Yun   Koo Kien Keat
  Tan Boon Heong
15–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2007 Singapore Open   Cai Yun   Choong Tan Fook
  Lee Wan Wah
16–21, 24–22, 21–18   Winner
2007 Indonesia Open   Cai Yun   Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif
  Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari
21–17, 22–20   Winner
2007 China Masters   Cai Yun   Markis Kido
  Hendra Setiawan
21–15, 21–16   Winner
2007 French Open   Cai Yun   Choong Tan Fook
  Lee Wan Wah
21–14, 21–19   Winner
2008 Korea Open   Cai Yun   Luluk Hadiyanto
  Alvent Yulianto
21–7, 20–22, 21–17   Winner
2008 Denmark Open   Shen Ye   Markis Kido
  Hendra Setiawan
15–21, 12–21   Runner-up
2009 All England Open   Cai Yun   Han Sang-hoon
  Hwang Ji-man
21–17, 21–15   Winner
2009 Indonesia Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
15–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2009 China Masters   Cai Yun   Guo Zhendong
  Xu Chen
Walkover   Runner-up
2010 Korea Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
11–21, 21–14, 18–21   Runner-up
2010 China Masters   Cai Yun   Ko Sung-hyun
  Yoo Yeon-seong
21–14, 21–19   Winner
2010 Japan Open   Cai Yun   Koo Kien Keat
  Tan Boon Heong
18–21, 21–14, 21–12   Winner
2011 Singapore Open   Cai Yun   Hendra Aprida Gunawan
  Alvent Yulianto
21–17, 21–13   Winner
2011 Indonesia Open   Cai Yun   Chai Biao
  Guo Zhendong
21–13, 21–12   Winner
2011 China Masters   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
17–21, 10–21   Runner-up
2011 Japan Open   Cai Yun   Mohammad Ahsan
  Bona Septano
21–13, 23–21   Winner
2011 Denmark Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
16–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2011 French Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
21–14, 15–21, 11–21   Runner-up
2011 Hong Kong Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
14–21, 24–22, 21–19   Winner
2012 Korea Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
18–21, 21–17, 21–19   Winner
2012 All England Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
23–21, 9–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2012 Hong Kong Open   Cai Yun   Koo Kien Keat
  Tan Boon Heong
21–16, 21–17   Winner
2014 Denmark Open   Zhang Nan   Lee Yong-dae
  Yoo Yeon-seong
21–13, 25–23   Winner
2015 All England Open   Zhang Nan   Mathias Boe
  Carsten Mogensen
17–21, 20–22   Runner-up
2015 Indonesia Open   Zhang Nan   Ko Sung-hyun
  Shin Baek-cheol
16–21, 21–16, 19–21   Runner-up
2015 Singapore Open   Zhang Nan   Angga Pratama
  Ricky Karanda Suwardi
15–21, 21–11, 14–21   Runner-up
2015 Japan Open   Zhang Nan   Lee Yong-dae
  Yoo Yeon-seong
19–21, 27–29   Runner-up
2016 Singapore Open   Zhang Nan   Takeshi Kamura
  Keigo Sonoda
21–11, 22–20   Winner
2017 Malaysia Open   Zheng Siwei   Marcus Fernaldi Gideon
  Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
14–21, 21–14, 12–21   Runner-up
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix (8 titles, 8 runners-up) edit

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

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2003 Malaysia Open   Cai Yun   Kim Dong-moon
  Lee Dong-soo
15–17, 11–15   Runner-up
2003 German Open   Cai Yun   Eng Hian
  Flandy Limpele
15–9, 8–15, 4–15   Runner-up
2004 Swiss Open   Cai Yun   Luluk Hadiyanto
  Alvent Yulianto
15–9, 17–14   Winner
2004 Japan Open   Cai Yun   Ha Tae-kwon
  Kim Dong-moon
7–15, 15–6, 6–15   Runner-up
2004 Indonesia Open   Cai Yun   Luluk Hadiyanto
  Alvent Yulianto
8–15, 11–15   Runner-up
2005 German Open   Cai Yun   Jens Eriksen
  Martin Lundgaard Hansen
6–15, 15–3, 15–10   Winner
2005 All England Open   Cai Yun   Lars Paaske
  Jonas Rasmussen
15–10, 15–6   Winner
2005 Malaysia Open   Cai Yun   Sigit Budiarto
  Candra Wijaya
11–15, 14–17   Runner-up
2005 Hong Kong Open   Cai Yun   Jens Eriksen
  Martin Lundgaard Hansen
15–13, 15–9   Winner
2006 China Masters   Cai Yun   Jens Eriksen
  Martin Lundgaard Hansen
17–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2006 Chinese Taipei Open   Cai Yun   Jung Jae-sung
  Lee Yong-dae
21–14, 21–18   Winner
2006 Macau Open   Cai Yun   Guo Zhendong
  Zheng Bo
21–12, 9–21, 21–19   Winner
2006 China Open   Cai Yun   Markis Kido
  Hendra Setiawan
16–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2008 Thailand Open   Cai Yun   Guo Zhendong
  Xie Zhongbo
21–17, retired   Winner
2014 Swiss Open   Zhang Nan   Chai Biao
  Hong Wei
20–22, 14–21   Runner-up
2015 Chinese Taipei Open   Zhang Nan   Marcus Fernaldi Gideon
  Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
21–13, 21–8   Winner
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament

Family edit

Fu's grandfather was from Liancheng, Fujian. Once his grandfather migrated to Indonesia, because of the anti-Chinese riots in 1960s there, his family moved back to China and settled in Jieyang, Guangdong.

References edit

  1. ^ "Historical 1994-2008 top-25 world ranking data".
  2. ^ Chinese Fu clocks fastest smash at Sudirman Cup
  3. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  4. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". IBadmintonstore. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.

External links edit