Published: 17:59, June 21, 2022 | Updated: 18:12, June 21, 2022
China's Zhao Yunlei inducted into badminton Hall of Fame
By Xinhua

China's Zhang Nan (left) and China's Zhao Yunlei return to Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Indonesia's Liliyana Natsir during their mixed doubles semifinal badminton match at the Riocentro stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug 15, 2016, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (JIM WATSON / AFP)

BEIJING - Chinese doubles badminton legend Zhao Yunlei was inducted into the 2022 Badminton World Federation Hall of Fame on Tuesday, along with contemporary Indonesian doubles player Liliyana Natsir, which was announced on Saturday.

Zhao Yunlei was the only player to win a double at the same Olympics (London 2012) and two consecutive World Championships (Copenhagen 2014, Jarkada 2015)

Zhao Yunlei has won multiple tournaments, most notably in mixed doubles with Zhang Nan and women's doubles with Tian Qing. She was the only player to win a double at the same Olympics (London 2012) and two consecutive World Championships (Copenhagen 2014, Jarkada 2015).

"Zhao Yunlei was possibly the most versatile female doubles player of her time. She had few equals when it came to dominance in two categories over an extended period and retired as one of the most accomplished players ever - two Olympic and five World Championships gold among the several titles she picked up in her career," said the BWF statement.

"Making the BWF Hall of Fame is the ultimate tribute in badminton," BWF President Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen said. "The Hall of Fame recognizes the best of the best, and Zhao surely deserves a place in this elite list."

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Zhao will be honored at a virtual ceremony and media event on Friday.