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]

Zhou Mi
周蜜
Personal information
Born (1979-02-18) 18 February 1979 (age 45)
Nanning, Guangxi, China
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
HandednessRight
Women's singles
Highest ranking1
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Women's singles
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2001 Seville Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Birmingham Women's singles
Sudirman Cup
Gold medal – first place 2001 Seville Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Eindhoven Mixed team
Uber Cup
Gold medal – first place 2002 Guangzhou Women's team
Gold medal – first place 2004 Jakarta Women's team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Women's team
Asia Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Bangkok Women's singles
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Silkeborg Mixed doubles
Asia Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1997 Manila Girls' team
Silver medal – second place 1997 Manila Girls' singles
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Manila Girls' doubles
Representing  Hong Kong
Asia Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 New Delhi Women's singles
East Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2009 Hong Kong Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Hong Kong Women's team
BWF profile

Career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Olympic Games

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Women's singles

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

World Championships

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Women's singles

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

Asian Games

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Women's singles

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

Asian Championships

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Women's singles

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

East Asian Games

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Women's singles

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

World Junior Championships

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Mixed doubles

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

Asian Junior Championships

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Girls' singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1997 Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila, Philippines   Gong Ruina   Silver

Girls' doubles

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

BWF Superseries

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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   Lu Lan 21–18, 15–21, 21–15   Winner
2008 Singapore Open   Tine Rasmussen 19–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2008 Japan Open   Wang Yihan 19–21, 21–17, 15–21   Runner-up
2008 China Masters   Wang Lin 21–19, 19–21, 21–16   Winner
2008 Denmark Open   Wang Lin 18–21, 10–21   Runner-up
2008 World Superseries Masters Finals   Wang Chen 21–14, 21–18   Winner
2009 Malaysia Open   Tine Rasmussen 17–21, 21–15, 16–21   Runner-up
2009 Singapore Open   Xie Xingfang 21–19, 18–21, 21–10   Winner
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix

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

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1999 Dutch Open   Tang Chunyu   Chen Lin
  Jiang Xuelian
9–15, 4–15   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1996 Brunei Open   Yang Ming   Sandiarto
  Vera Octavia
13–18, 12–15   Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series

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Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1999 French International   Aparna Popat 11–0, 11–2   Winner
2007 Miami Pan Am International   Lucía Tavera 21–7, 21–6   Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

Record against selected opponents

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

References

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  1. ^ "Badminton World Federation - News". Archived from the original on 2010-09-07.
  2. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
  3. ^ http://newsninemsn.com/.au/article.aspx?id%3D416666. Retrieved December 28, 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Miami Lakes Internationals - Zhou Mi back in Business, 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.
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