Chen Long

Chen Long (Chinese: 谌龙; pinyin: Chén Lóng; Mandarin pronunciation: [ʈʂʰə̂n lʊ̌ŋ]; born 18 January 1989), is a Chinese professional badminton player. He is the reigning Olympic champion and two-time World champion and All England champion.

Junior events

Chen emerged as a world junior champion in the 2007 BWF World Junior Championships in both the boys' singles and team event. He also became Asian junior champion in the 2007 Asian Junior Badminton Championships.

2010

Chen participated in the Korea Open Super Series in January. He made it through to the semi-finals before losing to Danish player Peter Gade, 13–21 21–10 17–21. A week later, in the Malaysia Open, he lost in the opening round to Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand.

At the prestigious All England Open in March, he registered an impressive victory over 8th seed Jan Jorgensen in the first round but fell to Korea's Shon Wan-ho 18–21 21–18 19–21 in the second round. He followed up this disappointment with his best ever performance in a Super Series event by making it through to the final of the Swiss Open, where he finished runner-up to compatriot Chen Jin.

Chen was part of the Chinese team that won gold at the 2010 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur. He only featured in their opening match against Peru, taking just 31 minutes to beat his opponent, before being replaced in the team by Bao Chunlai for the later rounds. Chen's first individual title of 2010 came at the Bitburger Open in Germany, where he beat Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21–3 12–21 21–9 in the final of the GP Gold event. His good form continued when he finished runner-up to Lin Dan at the China Masters two weeks later, going down 15–21 21–13 14–21 to the reigning Olympic champion.

Chen obtained a second team gold medal of the year with China at the Asian Games held in Guangzhou, but did not feature in the individual event. More success followed when he won the China Open Super Series two weeks later. His passage to the final included a controversial walkover by Lin Dan in the quarter-finals and a hard-fought victory over current World champion Chen Jin in the semi-finals. In the final, he squared off against teammate Bao Chunlai, emerging the victor after 75 minutes of play. Chen's attempt at back-to-back Super Series titles came to an end at the hands of former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat in the semi-final of the Hong Kong Open the following week. Chen's strong finish to the year saw his world ranking rise to a career high of 3rd, briefly becoming the top ranked Chinese player.

2011

In the first tournament of the new season, Chen Long was convincingly beaten by world No 1 Lee Chong Wei in the semi-final of the Malaysia Open. It took just 39 minutes for the Malaysian to blow away the upcoming Chinese star with a score of 21–9 21–9. The effects of the demoralising defeat were still evident a week later when Chen lost in the second round of the Korea Open to Japanese player Kenichi Tago. His first individual title of the year came at the Thailand Open, where he beat experienced Korean player Lee Hyun-il in the final.

In August, Chen was eliminated in the first round of the World Championships by unheralded Guatemalan player Kevin Cordón in what was one of the shock results of the tournament. Cordón emerged the victor after clinching the third set 27–25 in a thrilling encounter. Chen sprang back from his shock exit from the World Championships by winning his first China Masters title after defeating his compatriot Chen Jin in the final. A week later, he won his first Japan Open by avenging his Malaysia Open loss to world No 1 Lee Chong Wei in the final. In October, Chen won his third consecutive Super Series tournament with another victory over Lee Chong Wei, this time in the final of the Denmark Open in its first year as a Premier Super Series event.

His highlights of the season were followed by an exit from semi-finals of Hong Kong Open and failure to defend his China Open title after losing to his compatriot, Lin Dan, in the final. He ended year 2011 with another runner-up in Super Series Master Finals, being beaten by Lin Dan again.

2012

Playing in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics

In 2012, Chen lost in the pre-quarterfinals of Indonesia Open 2012, to Parupalli Kashyap, 21-17, 21-14.

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Chen was defeated in the semi-final of the Men's Singles by Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, 21-13, 21-14, but went on to win bronze after defeating Lee Hyun-il in the Bronze medal match.

2013

Chen won convincingly against Lee Chong Wei in the 2013 All England Open in the finals, 21-17, 21-18. Despite missing the last two Sudirman Cup editions 2009 and 2011, Chen Long emerged as the first singles player to help China lift its fifth consecutive trophy in 2013 edition. He won the Denmark Open against Lee 24-22, 21-19 and then, the China Open against compatriot Wang Zhengming in three games.

2014

Chen started the year with a victory against Lee Chong Wei in the Korean Open. Then, he was unable to defend his All England title as he lost to Lee Chong Wei in the finals. He subsequently lost in the Indian Open finals to the same opponent. In May, Chen played first singles for China at the 2014 Thomas Cup. They were unable to defend their title as they lost 0-3 to Japan in the semifinals. Chen Long took the blame for the surprise loss of the Chinese Team, casting into doubt his ability to depose Lin Dan as China's MS 'big brother'. Chen's poor start to the season continued deep into the summer, when he saw early round knockouts in the Japan Open to Hu Yun of Hong Kong and Indonesian Open to Denmark's Jan Ø. Jørgensen. However, his fortune reversed at the most important competition of the year. On 31 August, Chen defeated Lee Chong Wei in the finals with a score of 21-19, 21-19 to win his first ever World Championship title at 2014 Copenhagen, breaking his 7-month title drought. He would then continue this excellent form for the rest of the season, defeating Son Wan-ho in the final of the 2014 Denmark Super Series Premier, his 6th Super Series Premier title to date and first of the year. He would also make the finals of the 2014 Hong Kong Super Series. Chen Long ended the season on a high note after winning the 2014 BWF Super Series Masters Finals in Dubai, boasting a 3-0 record in the Group Stage and defeating Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-16, 21-10 in the final. With this victory, Chen Long ascended to World No.1, dethroning rival Lee Chong Wei and achieving the title of Year End No.1 on the BWF World Ranking. This marked the first time in 6 years that a player other than Lee Chong Wei ended the year at the coveted No.1 ranking. Despite a slow start to the year, Chen's 2014 was characterised by his first ever World Championship, solid victories at the Super Series Masters Finals and Denmark Open, and the first time achieving the rank of World No.1.

2015

Starting the year as World No.1, Chen Long's first tournament of the season was the 2015 All England Super Series Premier, considered the most reputable Super Series Premier title. Defeating compatriot Lin Dan in straight sets (21-13, 21-12) en route to the finals, Chen won his second All England title in 2 years with a 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 over Jan O Jorgensen. Chen continued his winning form in his next tournament, the 2015 Malaysia Super Series Premier, defeating Lin Dan, this time with a tighter scoreline of 20-22, 21-13, 21-11. Two consecutive victories over Lin Dan, long considered China's strongest badminton player in the Men's Singles discipline, was considered by many as Chen's resolute ascension to the position of China MS No.1. A second round exit to Hu Yun at the 2015 Singapore Super Series and a semi-final loss to compatriot Tian Houwei by way of walkover put a stop to Chen Long's tournament-winning streak. However, victory over Viktor Axelsen at the 2015 Australian Super Series final with a score of 21-12, 14-21, 21-18 put Chen back in winning shape. This was followed by a quarterfinal exit at the 2015 Indonesia Super Series Premier, a tournament in which Chinese players routinely lose during the early stages. However, Chen would rediscover his form in the 2015 Chinese Taipei Open Grand Prix Gold with a victory over home favourite Chou Tien-chen. He would then defend his World Championship title in the 2015 Jakarta. Chen reached the final of the championships with ease, winning in 2 sets over each of his opponents, including Japanese rising star and then-World No.4 Kento Momota 21–9, 21–15 in the semi-finals. In a rematch of the 2014 final, Chen Long was again victorious over rival Lee Chong Wei, successfully defending his World Champion title with an easier scoreline of 21-14, 21-17. This marked the second World Championship title for Chen Long, that secured him in position of Year End at No. 1, again. Chen would follow this up with another Super Series victory at the 2015 Korea Open Super Series, during which he defeated unseeded Ajay Jayaram 21-14, 21-13 in the final. This was Chen's 8th Super Series title, bringing his total SS (including Premier) tally to 16 and year-to-date titles to 7, the most he's achieved in one season. During November 2015, Chen Long reached the Finals without losing a single set, however a resurgent Lee Chong Wei proved tough to be beat losing the finals in two straight sets 21-15, 21-11 halting his 7 straight finals win in 2015. In December 2015, Chen Long made the semi finals of the Super series finals in Dubai.

2016

2016 Summer Olympics

In the 2016 Olympic Games, Chen Long was the second seed behind World No.1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. After defeating Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka 21-7, 21-10 and Poland's Adrian Dziółko 21-12, 21-9 during the Group Stage, Chen Long qualified for the knockout rounds.

In the Quarter-finals, he defeated Son Wan-ho of South Korea by a tight scoreline of 21-11, 18-21, 21-11, after which he defeated eventual bronze-medalist Denmark's Viktor Axelsen 21-14, 21-15 in the semi-finals.

Facing Lee Chong Wei in the Badminton Men's Singles final at the Pavilion 4, Riocentro on 20 August 2016, Chen Long grabbed the Olympic gold medal after he defeated the Malaysian(Lee Chong Wei) and won the match with a score of 21-18, 21-18, earning his first Olympic Gold Medal.

2017

In 7–12 March, All England Open, Chen Long lost to Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in Round 16 by 16–21, 19–21.

In 25–30 April, Badminton Asian Championships in Wuhan, China, Chen Long defeated Lin Dan by rubble set game, 21–23, 21–11, 21–10, in the Men's Singles final and he get his first Asian Championships title.

On 21–28 May in the 2017 Sudirman Cup, Chen Long won all the three games he played, but in the final, China team lost to Korea by 2–3.

On 20–25 June, Crown Group Australia Open, Chen Long lost to Kidambi Srikanth in the Men's Singles final by straight set game, 20–22, 16–21.

On 21–27 August, Total BWF World Championships, Chen Long lost to Viktor Axelsen in the Men's Singles quarter final, 9–21, 10–21. He failed to defend his World Championship title of 2016.

On 14–19 November, China Open Superseries Premier in Tahoe, China, Chen Long defeated Viktor Axelsen in the Men's Singles final by rubble set game, 21–16, 14–21, 21–13. He get his fourth China Open title.

On 21–26 November, Yonex–Sunrise Hong Kong Open, Chen Long lost to Lee Chong Wei by straight set game, 14–21, 19–21.

In the Dubai Superseries Final, Chen Long withdrew due to a knee injury.

2018

He represented the China national badminton team in the 2018 Thomas & Uber Cup. In the group stage, he upset Prannoy from India and Brice Leverdez from France. In the quarter finals, he defeated Chou Tien-Chen from Chinese Taipei. China beat Chinese Taipei 3-0. In the match against Indonesia in the semi-finals, he defeated Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in two sets. During the final match, China faced Japan. He lost his match against the 2018 World Champion and then World No.1 Kento Momota in two sets, but although he lost his match, China beat Japan 3–1 and won the 2018 Thomas & Uber Cup).

Chen Long married badminton player Wang Shixian in 2017, after over a decade together.

Surname pronunciation issue

Chen Long's surname 谌 was actually pronounced Shèn but the word 谌 is pronounced chén when not used as surname. As a result of this, mispronunciation happens a lot and early in his career when he enrolled in China's athlete system his surname was registered incorrectly as Chen. He tried to correct it but failed because of bureaucracy and finally let go of it.

Individual titles (30)

     World Tour

     Super Series Premier

     Super Series tournament

     Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix tournament