Michelle Li
Michelle Li | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Michelle Li at the 2017 Indonesia Open Superseries Premier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | Michelle Li Man-shan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Hong Kong | November 3, 1991|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Markham, Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 66 kg (146 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years active | 2010–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Handedness | Right | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coach | Jennifer Lee Mike Butler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Women's singles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | 8 (22 October 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current ranking | 11 (22 June 2021) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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BWF profile |
Michelle Li | |||
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Chinese | 李文珊 | ||
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Michelle Li (born November 3, 1991) is a Canadian badminton player from Markham, Ontario.[1][2] Li is the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion and the first Canadian to win an individual gold medal in women's singles badminton at the Commonwealth Games. She has won gold in both singles and doubles at the Pan American Games, and won the singles and team event titles from the Pan Am Badminton Championships. As a competitor for Ontario, Li also won singles, doubles, and mixed team titles at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
Early life and education[]
Michelle Li was born in Hong Kong to Chi Keung Li and Agnes Kwong, together with brother Mark they moved to Canada in 1997. An active child, she started playing badminton at age 11 with her mom at the local community center. A friend introduced her to her current club where she began lessons and competing locally in small tournaments. She started competing internationally when she was around 17 years old. Li graduated from Richmond Hill High School and is an undergraduate student at Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto.[citation needed]
Career[]
One of Li's early notable performances came at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There she won gold in the women's singles event and followed that performance with a gold in the doubles event with Alexandra Bruce. Due to this success she was then named the flag bearer for Team Ontario at the closing ceremonies for the games.[3]
Later that year Li was the gold medal winner in the women's doubles event alongside Bruce at the 2011 Pan American Games.[4] Li would then go on the next day to win the women's singles competition, completing a second games double gold appearance that year, this time in Guadalajara.[5]
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Bruce and Li finished last in the round-robin portion of the women's doubles tournament, losing all three of their matches.[6] However, the top two teams in the group were disqualified for attempting to intentionally lose matches so they would have an easier match-up in the quarterfinals.[7] The duo was advanced to their quarterfinals, where they defeated Australia's Leanne Choo and Renuga Veeran. Bruce and Li finished in fourth place, the best Canadian finish in badminton at the Olympic Games.[6]
In 2013, Li entered into the finals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold, defeating Hong Kong top player Yip Pui Yin in the semi-finals, making her the first Pan American athlete to ever enter into a singles final of a Grand Prix Gold event since that series began in 2007. In 2014, she also entered into the quarter-finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships Super Series Premier, beating Tai Tzu-ying in the first round, making her, in 35 years, the first Canadian player to enter at the least the quarter-finals of this prestigious tournament. Later in 2014, Li won the Canada Open Grand Prix, making her the first home player to win this title ever since it became a Grand Prix event.
Li won the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games defeating Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the final.[8] She thus became the first Canadian woman to win a singles gold in Commonwealth badminton.[9]
At the 2015 Pan American Games, Li successfully defended her title, defeating fellow Canadian Rachel Honderich in the final.[10]
Michelle had several operations in 2016 to fix nagging injuries sustained earlier in her career. She took a year off in 2017 to heal from the operations and to focus on a comeback for 2018. After deeming herself fully fit she entered the stage relatively quietly in 2018 until she made a landmark win against the 3rd seed Ratchanok Intanon in round 16 of the All England Open. She had not defeated Intanon previously. Michelle's progress was clear as she moved quickly around the court playing much lighter on her feet than her previous years.
During the 2018 Thomas Uber Cup, Li again played well. She defeated India's Saina Nehwal, who she had not previously beaten, by 21–15, 16–21, 16–21. Li spearheaded Canada to their first ever Uber Cup quarterfinal and she defeated Sung Ji-hyun (21–14, 21–15). Canada eventually lost 3–1 to South Korea.
In the 2019 Japan Open, Li played and defeated the No. 1 seed, Tai Tzu-ying (21–15, 15–21, 22–20) to reach the semis.
She qualified to represent Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, but was defeated by Nozomi Okuhara (9–21, 7–21) in the round of 16.[11]
Achievements[]
Commonwealth Games[]
Women's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | ![]() |
21–14, 21–7 | ![]() |
Pan American Games[]
Women's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Multipurpose Gymnasium, Guadalajara, Mexico | ![]() |
21–12, 21–13 | ![]() |
2015 | Atos Markham Pan Am Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ![]() |
21–15, 21–9 | ![]() |
2019 | Polideportivo 3, Lima, Peru | ![]() |
21–11, 21–19 | ![]() |
Women's doubles
Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Multipurpose Gymnasium, Guadalajara, Mexico |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–15, 21–15 | ![]() |
2015 | Atos Markham Pan Am Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
11–21, 8–21 | ![]() |
Pan Am Championships[]
Women's singles
Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Clube Curitibano, Curitiba, Brazil | ![]() |
21–17, 17–21, 19–21 | ![]() |
2013 | Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | ![]() |
21–8, 21–6 | ![]() |
2014 | Markham Pan Am Centre, Markham, Canada | ![]() |
21–13, 21–16 | ![]() |
2018 | Teodoro Palacios Flores Gymnasium, Guatemala City, Guatemala | ![]() |
21–15, 21–16 | ![]() |
2019 | Gimnasio Olímpico, Aguascalientes, Mexico | ![]() |
21–15, 24–22 | ![]() |
Women's doubles
Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Clube Curitibano, Curitiba, Brazil |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–16, 21–23, 12–21 | ![]() |
2013 | Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–16, 11–21, 6–21 | ![]() |
Mixed's doubles
Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Club de Regatas, Lima, Peru |
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![]() ![]() |
14–21, 15–21 | ![]() |
BWF World Tour (2 titles, 1 runner-up)[]
The BWF World Tour, announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[12] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour are divided into six levels, namely World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[13]
Women's singles
Year | Tournament | Level | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Macau Open | Super 300 | ![]() |
23–25, 21–17, 21–15 | ![]() |
2019 | Chinese Taipei Open | Super 300 | ![]() |
11–21, 9–21 | ![]() |
2019 | Macau Open | Super 300 | ![]() |
21–18, 21–8 | ![]() |
BWF Grand Prix (3 titles, 3 runners-up)[]
The BWF Grand Prix has two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It is a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) since 2007.
Women's singles
Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Macau Open | ![]() |
15–21, 12–21 | ![]() |
2014 | Canada Open | ![]() |
21–16, 23–21 | ![]() |
2015 | Canada Open | ![]() |
21–17, 25–23 | ![]() |
2016 | Canada Open | ![]() |
Walkover | ![]() |
2017 | U.S. Open | ![]() |
11–21, 19–21 | ![]() |
2017 | Dutch Open | ![]() |
16–21, 14–21 | ![]() |
- BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
- BWF Grand Prix tournament
BWF International Challenge/Series (21 titles, 9 runners-up)[]
Women's singles
Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Peru International | ![]() |
18–21, 17–21 | ![]() |
2010 | Canadian International | ![]() |
21–15, 12–21, 21–23 | ![]() |
2011 | Dutch International | ![]() |
18–21, 21–13, 15–21 | ![]() |
2011 | Guatemala International | ![]() |
21–15, 21–13 | ![]() |
2011 | Brazil International | ![]() |
21–15, 21–15 | ![]() |
2011 | Puerto Rico International | ![]() |
21–13, 29–27 | ![]() |
2011 | Canadian International | ![]() |
21–14, 21–11 | ![]() |
2012 | Finnish Open | ![]() |
20–22, 19–21 | ![]() |
2012 | Peru International | ![]() |
21–23, 21–14, 21–15 | ![]() |
2012 | Tahiti International | ![]() |
21–8, 21–13 | ![]() |
2013 | Maldives International | ![]() |
21–8, 21–13 | ![]() |
2013 | Canadian International | ![]() |
21–14, 21–19 | ![]() |
2013 | Brazil International | ![]() |
16–21, 21-15, 21-8 | ![]() |
2014 | Peru International | ![]() |
25–27, 19–21 | ![]() |
2014 | Belgian International | ![]() |
11–6, 11–2, 11–6 | ![]() |
2014 | Czech International | ![]() |
21–14, 21–17 | ![]() |
2017 | Peru International | ![]() |
21–10, 21–10 | ![]() |
Women's doubles
Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Banuinvest International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–15, 21–14 | ![]() |
2011 | Peru International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
11–21, 21–15, 21–8 | ![]() |
2011 | Brazil International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
14–21, 17–21 | ![]() |
2011 | Puerto Rico International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
24–22, 15–21, 21–11 | ![]() |
2011 | Canadian International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–10, 13–21, 21–16 | ![]() |
2012 | Finnish Open | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–19, 12–21, 21–16 | ![]() |
2012 | Peru International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–18, 21–18 | ![]() |
2012 | Tahiti International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
13–21, 12–21 | ![]() |
2013 | Peru International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–15, 21–18 | ![]() |
2014 | Czech International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–12, 21–17 | ![]() |
Mixed doubles
Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Brazil International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
13–21, 19–21 | ![]() |
2013 | USA International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
21–16, 21–15 | ![]() |
2014 | Peru International | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
16–21, 18–21 | ![]() |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
Record against selected opponents[]
Includes Players who have been Year-end Finals finalists, World Championships semifinalists or Olympic quarterfinalists at least. Accurate as of 28 January 2021[14]
Petya Nedelcheva (1–0)
Chen Yufei (1–4)
He Bingjiao (0–5)
Li Xuerui (1–2)
Wang Shixian (0–1)
Wang Xin (0–1)
Wang Yihan (0–6)
Cheng Shao-chieh (0–1)
Tai Tzu-ying (2–9)
Tine Baun (0–2)
Tracey Hallam (1–0)
Pi Hongyan (0–1)
Juliane Schenk (0–3)
Yip Pui Yin (2–2)
Saina Nehwal (1–2)
P. V. Sindhu (2–6)
Lindaweni Fanetri (0–2)
Minatsu Mitani (1–3)
Nozomi Okuhara (3–8)
Akane Yamaguchi (0–4)
Bae Yeon-ju (0–3)
Sung Ji-hyun (3–3)
Carolina Marín (2–4)
Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (1–1)
Ratchanok Intanon (1–6)
References[]
- ^ "Michelle Li Guadalajara profile". Canadian Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on October 31, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
- ^ "Michelle Li". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ Mike Hayakawa (February 27, 2011). "Golden Markham athlete carries flag in closing ceremonies". YorkRegion.com.
- ^ "Pan Am Games: Canadian Trail". CBC Sports. October 19, 2011.
- ^ "Canada wins 5 golds at Pan Am Games". CBC News. October 20, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lidell, Mackenzie (August 1, 2012). "Canada Gains from Badminton Scandal, Advances to Semis". CTV Olympics. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ Associated Press (August 1, 2012). "8 Badminton Players Disqualified for Throwing Matches". CTV Olympics. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow 2014: Scot Kirsty Gilmour misses out on badminton gold". BBC News Online. August 3, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- ^ "Commonwealth Games: Michelle Li wins historic badminton gold". CBC. August 3, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
- ^ "Michelle Li wins gold in women's badminton at Pan Am Games". The Globe and Mail. July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
- ^ ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Sports-. "Un record de huit Canadiens en badminton à Tokyo | Jeux olympiques". Radio-Canada.ca (in French). Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. January 15, 2018.
- ^ "Head to Head analysis – Michelle Li". bwfbadminton.com. Badminton World Federation. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michelle Li. |
- Michelle Li at BWF.tournamentsoftware.com
- Michelle Li at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Badminton Canada profile PDF
- Michelle Li at gc2018.com
- 1991 births
- Living people
- Hong Kong emigrants to Canada
- Sportspeople from Markham, Ontario
- Canadian sportspeople of Chinese descent
- Canadian female badminton players
- Badminton players at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Badminton players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Olympic badminton players of Canada
- Badminton players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
- Badminton players at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
- Badminton players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada
- Commonwealth Games medallists in badminton
- Badminton players at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Badminton players at the 2015 Pan American Games
- Badminton players at the 2019 Pan American Games
- Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada
- Pan American Games bronze medalists for Canada
- Pan American Games medalists in badminton
- Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
- Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games
- Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games
- Badminton players at the 2020 Summer Olympics