Chen Long (; ; born 18 January 1989), is a Chinese former professional badminton player. He is the 2016 Olympic champion, two-time World champion, and an Asian champion.
Chen was a former World number 1, occupying the top men's singles ranking for 76 consecutive weeks from December 2014 to June 2016. He started his achievements in the international stage by winning the boys' singles title in the Asian and World Junior Championships in 2007, and then won his first professional tournament in the Philippines Open in 2009.
Affectionately known as "The Great Wall of China" by his fans, he is noted for his endurance, ability to dictate rallies and resolute defence. He is considered one of the greats of men's singles badminton.
In 2008, Chen was selected to join the national first team.
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 in three games, 13–21, 21–10, 17–21. A week later, in the Malaysia Open, he lost in the opening round to Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand.
In March, at the German Open, Chen lost in the final to his teammate, Bao Chunlai in two straight games. At the All England Open, he registered an impressive victory over 8th seed Jan Ø. Jørgensen in the first round but fell to Korea's Son 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 Grand Prix Gold event. His good form continued when he finished runner-up to teammate 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 as 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 4th, briefly becoming the top ranked Chinese player.
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 number 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 the semi-finals of Hong Kong Open to his senior, Chen Jin 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.
In the 2012 Summer Olympics, Chen was defeated in the semi-final of the men's singles competition 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. After the Olympics, Chen's form picked up tremendously, starting from winning the China Masters in September, where he beat Hong Kong's Hu Yun in the final. In October, he reached the semi-finals of the Denmark Open but was eliminated by his compatriot Du Pengyu once again. In November, he won both the China Open and the Hong Kong Open, beating Wang Zhengming and Lee Chong Wei respectively in the finals. At year-end, BWF Superseries Finals, Chen managed to avenge his previous defeats to Du Pengyu on tours, by beating him in the final to win his first Superseries Finals title.
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 BWF World Championships held in 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 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 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 Denmark Open and Super Series Masters Finals, and for the first time achieving the rank of World No.1.
He would then defend his World Championship title at the 2015 BWF World Championships held in 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 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, which secured him the position of Year-End 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.
In October, Chen continued his fine form by defeating Tommy Sugiarto in the final to win the Denmark Super Series Premier. 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 has achieved in one season. In November 2015, Chen reached the China Open final without losing a single set, however, a resurgent Lee Chong Wei proved tough to beat, losing the finals in two straight sets 21–15, 21–11, halting his 7 straight finals win in 2015. In December 2015, Chen made the semi-finals of the Super Series Finals in Dubai.
At 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 was 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 clinched the Olympic gold medal after he defeated the Malaysian (Lee Chong Wei) and won the match in straight games with a score of 21–18, 21–18, earning his first Olympic gold medal.
In November, Chen participated in the China Open and came in second to Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen.
Chen Long's surname was actually pronounced Shèn but the word 谌 is pronounced chén when not used as a 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.
2012 | Wembley Arena, London, Great Britain | Lee Hyun-il | 21–12, 15–21, 21–15 | Bronze |
2016 | Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Lee Chong Wei | 21–18, 21–18 | Gold |
2020 | Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Japan | Viktor Axelsen | 15–21, 12–21 | Silver |
2014 | Ballerup Super Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Lee Chong Wei | 21–19, 21–19 | Gold |
2015 | Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia | Lee Chong Wei | 21–14, 21–17 | Gold |
2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland | Viktor Axelsen | 9–21, 10–21 | Bronze |
2018 | Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, Nanjing, China | Shi Yuqi | 11–21, 17–21 | Bronze |
2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Lin Dan | 21–12, 16–21, 16–21 | Silver |
2009 | Suwon Gymnasium, Suwon, South Korea | Bao Chunlai | 21–16, 10–21, 16–21 | Silver |
2011 | Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, China | Bao Chunlai | 12–21, 13–21 | Bronze |
2012 | Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium, Qingdao, China | Du Pengyu | 21–17, 16–21, 12–21 | Bronze |
2013 | Taipei Arena, Taipei, Taiwan | Du Pengyu | 17–21, 19–21 | Silver |
2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Tian Houwei | Walkover | Bronze |
2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Lee Chong Wei | 17–21, 21–15, 13–21 | Silver |
2017 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Lin Dan | 21–23, 21–11, 21–10 | Gold |
2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Kento Momota | 17–21, 13–21 | Silver |
2007 | The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City, New Zealand | Kenichi Tago | 21–16, 21–14 | Gold |
2007 | Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif | 18–21, 21–18, 22–20 | Gold |
Men's singles
2018 | French Open | Super 750 | Shi Yuqi | 21–17, 21–19 | Winner |
2019 | Malaysia Masters | Super 500 | Son Wan-ho | 17–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
2019 | Malaysia Open | Super 750 | Lin Dan | 21–9, 17–21, 11–21 | Runner-up |
2019 | Denmark Open | Super 750 | Kento Momota | 14–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
2019 | French Open | Super 750 | Jonatan Christie | 21–19, 21–12 | Winner |
Men's singles
2010 | Swiss Open | Chen Jin | 21–12, 15–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
2010 | China Masters | Lin Dan | 15–21, 21–13, 14–21 | Runner-up |
2010 | China Open | Bao Chunlai | 9–21, 21–14, 21–16 | Winner |
2011 | China Masters | Chen Jin | 21–16, 22–20 | Winner |
2011 | Japan Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–8, 10–21, 21–19 | Winner |
2011 | Denmark Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–15, 21–18 | Winner |
2011 | China Open | Lin Dan | 17–21, 24–26 | Runner-up |
2011 | BWF Super Series Finals | Lin Dan | 12–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
2012 | China Masters | Hu Yun | 21–11, 21–13 | Winner |
2012 | Hong Kong Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–19, 21–17 | Winner |
2012 | China Open | Wang Zhengming | 21–19, 21–18 | Winner |
2012 | BWF Super Series Finals | Du Pengyu | 21–12, 21–13 | Winner |
2013 | All England Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–17, 21–18 | Winner |
2013 | Denmark Open | Lee Chong Wei | 24–22, 21–19 | Winner |
2013 | China Open | Wang Zhengming | 19–21, 21–8, 21–14 | Winner |
2014 | Korea Open | Lee Chong Wei | 21–14, 21–15 | Winner |
2014 | All England Open | Lee Chong Wei | 13–21, 18–21 | Runner-up |
2014 | India Open | Lee Chong Wei | 13–21, 17–21 | Runner-up |
2014 | Denmark Open | Son Wan-ho | 21–19, 24–22 | Winner |
2014 | Hong Kong Open | Son Wan-ho | 19–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
2014 | BWF Super Series Finals | Hans-Kristian Vittinghus | 21–16, 21–10 | Winner |
2015 | All England Open | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 15–21, 21–17, 21–15 | Winner |
2015 | Malaysia Open | Lin Dan | 20–22, 21–13, 21–11 | Winner |
2015 | Australian Open | Viktor Axelsen | 21–12, 14–21, 21–18 | Winner |
2015 | Korea Open | Ajay Jayaram | 21–14, 21–13 | Winner |
2015 | Denmark Open | Tommy Sugiarto | 21–12, 21–12 | Winner |
2015 | China Open | Lee Chong Wei | 15–21, 11–21 | Runner-up |
2016 | Malaysia Open | Lee Chong Wei | 13–21, 8–21 | Runner-up |
2016 | China Open | Jan Ø. Jørgensen | 20–22, 13–21 | Runner-up |
2017 | Australia Open | Srikanth Kidambi | 20–22, 16–21 | Runner-up |
2017 | China Open | Viktor Axelsen | 21–16, 14–21, 21–13 | Winner |
2017 | Hong Kong Open | Lee Chong Wei | 14–21, 19–21 | Runner-up |
Men's singles
2009 | Malaysia Masters | Lee Chong Wei | 16–21, 9–21 | Runner-up |
2009 | Philippines Open | Hu Yun | 21–13, 21–6 | Winner |
2010 | German Open | Bao Chunlai | 13–21, 10–21 | Runner-up |
2010 | Bitburger Open | Hans-Kristian Vittinghus | 21–3, 12–21, 21–9 | Winner |
2011 | Thailand Open | Lee Hyun-il | 21–8, 21–19 | Winner |
2013 | German Open | Tommy Sugiarto | 21–17, 21–11 | Winner |
2015 | Chinese Taipei Open | Chou Tien-chen | 15–21, 21–9, 21–6 | Winner |
2016 | China Masters | Lin Dan | 17–21, 21–23 | Runner-up |
National representation – Individual | ||||||||||||||||||
Summer Olympic Games | N/A | N/A | SF-B 4–1 | N/A | G 5-0 | N/A | S 5-1 | N/A | 87% | |||||||||
Asian Games | N/A | A | N/A | S 4–1 | N/A | QF 2–1 | N/A | 75% | ||||||||||
National representation – Team | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Cup | N/A | A | N/A | G 1–0 | N/A | G 5–0 | N/A | SF-B 4–1 | N/A | QF 3–1 | N/A | G 5–1 | N/A | A | N/A | 86% | ||
Sudirman Cup | A | N/A | A | N/A | G 0–0 | N/A | G 5–0 | N/A | G 2–0 | N/A | S 3–0 | N/A | G 1–1 | N/A | A | 92% | ||
Asian Games | N/A | G 1–0 | N/A | S 2–1 | N/A | G 3–0 | N/A | 86% | ||||||||||
East Asian Games | N/A | G 2–0 | N/A | G 4–0 | N/A | NH | N/A | NH | 100% | |||||||||
Continental Championships | ||||||||||||||||||
World Championships | A | N/A | Absent | 1R 0–1 | N/A | QF 3–1 | G 6–0 | G 5–0 | N/A | SF-B 4–1 | SF-B 4–1 | QF 3–1 | N/A | A | 83% | |||
Asian Championships | 2R 0–1 | A | S 5–1 | A | SF-B 4–1 | SF-B 4–1 | S 5–1 | A | SF-B 3–1 | S 4–1 | G 5–0 | S 4–1 | QF 2–1 | N/A | 77% | |||
Year-end Championships | ||||||||||||||||||
BWF World Tour Finals | NH | SF 3–1 | F 3–2 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | SF 3–1 | Absent | SF 1–2 | 77% | |||||||||
BWF tournaments tournamentsoftware.com | ||||||||||||||||||
Thailand Masters | N/A | Absent | N/A | 0% | ||||||||||||||
Swiss Open | Absent | F 4–1 | A | SF 4–1 | Absent | SF 3–1 | N/A | A | 78% | |||||||||
German Open | Absent | SF 6–1 | F 5–1 | Absent | W 6–0 | Absent | SF 4–1 | Absent | N/A | 87% | ||||||||
All England Open | Absent | 2R 1–1 | SF 3–1 | QF 2–1 | W 5–0 | F 4–1 | W 5–0 | 2R 1–1 | 2R 1–1 | QF 2–1 | 1R 0–1 | QF 2–1 | A | 74% | ||||
Malaysia Masters | N/A | F 5–1 | Absent | 1R 0–1 | F 4–1 | QF 2–1 | N/A | 73% | ||||||||||
Australian Open | Absent | W 5–0 | QF 2–1 | F 4–1 | Absent | N/A | 85% | |||||||||||
India Open | NH | A | SF 4–1 | Absent | F 4–1 | Absent | N/A | 80% | ||||||||||
Malaysia Open | Absent | 1R 0–1 | SF 3–1 | SF 3–1 | A | QF 2–1 | W 5–0 | F 4–1 | QF 2–1 | 1R 0–1 | F 4–1 | N/A | 72% | |||||
Singapore Open | Absent | 2R 1–1 | Absent | 2R 1–1 | QF 2–1 | Absent | QF 2–1 | N/A | 60% | |||||||||
Thailand Open | Absent | NH | W 6–0 | Absent | NH | Absent | 1R 0–1 | A | N/A | 86% | ||||||||
Korea Open | Absent | SF 3–1 | 2R 1–1 | 1R 0–1 | 1R 0–1 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | Absent | 1R 0–1 | N/A | 74% | |||||||
Chinese Taipei Open | Absent | W 6–0 | Absent | N/A | 100% | |||||||||||||
China Open | A | Q2 1–1 | 2R 1–1 | W 5–0 | F 4–1 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | 2R 1–1 | F 4–1 | F 4–1 | W 5–0 | QF 2–1 | SF 3–1 | N/A | 83% | |||
Japan Open | Absent | 2R 1–1 | QF 2–1 | W 5–0 | A | 1R 0–1 | QF 2–1 | 2R 1–1 | Absent | QF 2–1 | 1R 0–1 | N/A | 65% | |||||
Denmark Open | Absent | QF 2–1 | A | W 5–0 | SF 3–1 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | A | 1R 0–1 | 1R 0–1 | F 4–1 | Absent | 85% | ||||
French Open | Absent | QF 2–1 | A | SF 3–1 | Absent | 2R 1–1 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | N/A | A | 84% | |||||||
SaarLorLux Open | Absent | W 6–0 | Absent | 100% | ||||||||||||||
Macau Open | A | 2R 1–1 | 2R 1–1 | Absent | N/A | 50% | ||||||||||||
China Masters | Q1 0–1 | 1R 0–1 | QF 2–1 | F 4–1 | W 5–0 | W 5–0 | 1R 0–1 | Absent | F 5–1 | A | SF 3–1 | 2R 1–1 | N/A | 76% | ||||
Hong Kong Open | Absent | 1R 0–1 | SF 3–1 | SF 3–1 | W 5–0 | 1R 0–1 | F 4–1 | QF 2–1 | A | F 4–1 | 2R 1–1 | QF 2–1 | N/A | 73% | ||||
Indonesia Masters | Not Held | Absent | NH | QF 2–1 | QF 2–1 | A | 66% | |||||||||||
Indonesia Open | Absent | SF 3–1 | 2R 1–1 | 1R 0–1 | SF 3–1 | QF 2–1 | 1R 0–0 | QF 2–1 | 1R 0–1 | 2R 1–1 | N/A | A | 60% | |||||
Philippines Open | A | NH | W 5–0 | Not Held | 100% | |||||||||||||
Career Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||
1 |
Bao Chunlai | 0 |
Chen Jin | –1 |
Du Pengyu | +1 |
Lin Dan | -2 |
Shi Yuqi | +3 |
Tian Houwei | +3 |
Chou Tien-chen | +10 |
Anders Antonsen | +3 |
Viktor Axelsen | +8 |
Peter Gade | +2 |
Jan Ø. Jørgensen | +9 |
Hans-Kristian Vittinghus | +11 |
Rajiv Ouseph | +7 |
Kevin Cordón | –1 |
Parupalli Kashyap | +6 |
Srikanth Kidambi | +5 |
B. Sai Praneeth | +1 |
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting | –3 |
Sony Dwi Kuncoro | 0 |
Tommy Sugiarto | +11 |
Taufik Hidayat | +2 |
Kento Momota | 0 |
Sho Sasaki | +6 |
Lee Chong Wei | –2 |
Liew Daren | +6 |
Wong Choong Hann | +3 |
Heo Kwang-hee | +1 |
Lee Hyun-il | +3 |
Park Sung-hwan | +1 |
Son Wan-ho | +6 |
Boonsak Ponsana | +7 |
Kantaphon Wangcharoen | +2 |
Nguyễn Tiến Minh | +2 |
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