Anna Lao

Last updated

Anna Lao
AM
Personal information
CountryAustralia
Born7 May 1962 (1962-05-07) (age 61) [1] [2]
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Years active1989-1992
HandednessRight
Women's singles & doubles
Career record93 wins, 48 losses
Highest ranking5
BWF profile

Anna Oi Chan Lao AM (born 7 May 1962) [1] [2] is a former Australian badminton player. She is the most successful badminton player in the history of Australian badminton.

Contents

She was ranked 5th in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where badminton had only been introduced for the first time as an Olympic sport. Lao played in the quarterfinals for women's singles and women's doubles where most participants only make it through one discipline.

In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lao was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to badminton, sports & to the multicultural community. [3]

Career

Lao was ranked 2nd in China before she left to represent Australia in the Olympics, in which she was ranked 1st in Australia. She held the times of Master of Sports in China in 1985. Prior to her participation in the Olympics, she held the titles of the Australian Open in 1988, 1989 and 1991 in women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Lao also reached the semifinals of the 1989 Malaysia Open. She was also a champion at the 1991 New Zealand Open and the 1992 French Open. She was a semifinalist at the 1992 Swedish Open.

1992 Barcelona Olympics

Badminton was first introduced to the Olympic Games in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She placed 5th in women's singles & women's doubles.

Women's doubles

Lao played with her doubles partner Rhonda Cator. Their first game with Swiss players Silvia Albrecht & Bettina Villars were a success scoring 15–3, 15–6. Their second round was with Polish players Bożena Bąk & Wioletta Wilk Sosnowska where they won 15–3, 15–12. Lao and Cator entered the quarterfinals with the world champions Lin Yanfen & Yao Fen where they lost 13–18, 5–15.

1992 Summer Olympics – Women's doubles
RoundPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1st Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Silvia Albrech
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bettina Villars
15–3, 15–6Win
2nd Flag of Poland.svg Bożena Bąk
Flag of Poland.svg Wioletta Wilk
15–3, 15–12Win
QF Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Lin Yan Fen
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yao Fen
13–18, 5–15Lost

Women's singles

Lao played a total of 4 games and entered the quarterfinals. Her first game was with Bettina Villars, whom she played against previously in doubles and won easily in two games. Her second round was with Camilla Martin, a player from Denmark who later on received the European Championship three times. Lao won 11–6, 12–11. She later played with the European champion at the time, Elena Rybkina. Lao won in three games. After winning the third round of games, she was placed in the quarterfinals where she versed world champion Tang Jiuhong, and lost both games.

1992 Summer Olympics – Women's singles (1)
RoundOpponentScoreResult
1st Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bettina Villars 11–0, 11–4Win
2nd Flag of Denmark.svg Camilla Martin 11–6, 12–11Win
3rd Olympic flag.svg Elena Rybkhina 7–11, 11–7, 11–8Win
QF Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tang Jiuhong 1–11, 9–11Lost

Awards and recognition

Achievements

IBF International (11 titles, 2 runner-up)

Women's singles

YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1989 Australian Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator 11–5, 11–0Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1990 Australian Open Flag of Indonesia.svg Susi Susanti 1–11, 4–11Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up
1991 Australian Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator 11–9, 11–1Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1991 New Zealand Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator 11–0, 12–11Gold medal icon.svgWinner

Women's doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1989 Australian Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Teresa Lian Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gillian Sanderson
15–9, 15–3Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1990 Australian Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lisa Campbell
Flag of Indonesia.svg Susi Susanti
15–8, 15–2Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1991 Australian Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator Flag of Australia (converted).svg Teresa Lian
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Song Yang
15–3, 15–4Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1991 New Zealand Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lisa Campbell
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adele Macdonald
15–7, 15–7Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1992 French Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rhonda Cator Flag of Germany.svg Katrin Schmidt
Flag of Germany.svg Kerstin Ubben
15–7, 15–5Gold medal icon.svgWinner

Mixed doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1989 Australian Open Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg He Tim Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gary Silvester
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tracey Small
15–11, 15–10Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1990 Australian Open Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg He Tim Flag of Indonesia.svg Ardy Wiranata
Flag of Indonesia.svg Susi Susanti
15–11, 15–12Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1991 Australian Open Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg He Tim Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Blackburn
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lisa Campbell
15–5, 15–4Gold medal icon.svgWinner
1991 New Zealand Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darren Macdonald Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Blackburn
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lisa Campbell
8–15, 16–17Silver medal icon.svgRunner-up

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References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Anna Lao". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Anna Lao". olympics.com.au. Australian Olympic Committee.
  3. archysport (13 June 2021). "Queen's Birthday 2021: Outstanding Chinese are awarded the Australian Medal-ABC News". Archysport. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lao, Anna. "About Us – Australian Badminton Academy". Australian Badminton Academy. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  5. "Honouring local badminton legend Anna Lao". www.ryde.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 15 October 2023.