Yuan Wemyss
| Yuan Wemyss | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Country |  Scotland | ||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 January 1976 Wuhan, Hubei Province, China | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | Stirling, Scotland | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Retired | in 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | ||||||||||||||
| Coach | Dan Travers | ||||||||||||||
| Event | Women's singles & doubles | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| BWF profile | |||||||||||||||
Yuan Wemyss ; also known as Rita Yuan Gao, Yuan Gao and Rita Pickering ; born 14 January 1976 is a retired Scottish badminton player who won Scottish National Championships for 13 times.[1]
Career
Wemyss was a bright sport prospect who formerly played at the regional level in China but never made it up to the national squad due to very tough competition. She temporarily left the sport in 1999 and began pursuing her another interest in learning English at the Carlisle College. In Carlisle she met Ian Palethorpe, a man whom she married few years after they met in a badminton club. Ian realised the great potential of Wemyss and contacted Scottish National badminton coach Dan Travers who in turn began supporting her for playing further Badminton and represent the Scotland at international stage. She there got her nickname Rita, then after dubbed as Rita Yuan Gao.[2] However she later divorced and reverted to her original name Yuan Gao.[3]
As of 2012, Yuan Gao moved to Zurich, Switzerland for part-time study of a Master of Philosophy in Sports Studies at the University of Stirling with a coaching role at Swiss Badminton. She also served as a Woman's ambassador in Badminton World Federation. In 2013, she competed in World Senior Championships also.[4] Currently she is acting as Performance and Development Coach of Badminton Scotland.[5][6]
Family
Wemyss comes from Wuhan, a big industrial city in Central China located alongside Yangtze river. Her father was a football coach and her brother was a professional player of Hubei Province. Her mother was a former Army administrator.
Achievements
IBF World Grand Prix
The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dutch Open | Sandra Watt
|
 Erica van den Heuvel Nicole van Hooren
|
4–15, 7–15 |  Runner-up
|
IBF International
Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Portugal International |  Anna Rice
|
21–9r |  Winner
|
| 2005 | Miami International | Anna Rice
|
11–3, 11–5 | Winner
|
| 2005 | Peru International | Anna Rice
|
2–11, 11–1, 11–5 | Winner
|
| 2005 | Finnish International | Susan Hughes
|
8–11, 9–11 | Runner-up
|
| 2005 | Portugal International |  Jeanine Cicognini
|
7–11, 11–3, 11–8 | Winner
|
| 2004 | Scottish International |  Jill Pittard
|
11–4, 3–11, 13–10 | Winner
|
| 2004 | Iceland International | Susan Hughes
|
7–11, 2–11 | Runner-up
|
| 2004 | Norwegian International |  Petra Overzier
|
1–11, 6–11 | Runner-up
|
| 2000 | Irish International | Elizabeth Cann
|
9–11, 11–2, 11–5 | Winner
|
| 2000 | New Zealand International |  Rhona Robertson
|
3–11, 9–11 | Runner-up
|
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Portugal International |  Petya Nedelcheva
|
Kathrin Piotrowski Sandra Marinello
|
15–8, 11–15, 2–15 | Runner-up
|
| 2004 | Welsh International | Petya Nedelcheva
|
Katie Litherland Julie Pike
|
17–14, 15–0 | Winner
|
| 2004 | Norwegian International | Michelle Douglas
|
Liza Parker Suzanne Rayappan
|
0–15, 15–13, 8–15 | Runner-up
|
| 2002 | Iceland International | Kirsteen McEwan
|
 Katrin Atladóttir Drifa Hardardóttir
|
11–3, 11–4 | Winner
|
| 2002 | Scottish International | Kirsteen McEwan
|
Nicole Grether Juliane Schenk
|
Walkover | Winner
|
| 2002 | Slovak International | Kirsteen McEwan
|
 Natalia Gorodnicheva Elena Sukhareva
|
11–5, 11–5 | Winner
|
| 2001 | Scottish International | Sandra Watt
|
Kirsteen McEwan Susan Hughes
|
7–4, 7–0, 6–8, 7–0 | Winner
|
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Iceland International | Graeme Smith
|
Hayley Connor Peter Jeffrey
|
7–15, 15–7, 13–15 | Runner-up
|
References
- ^ "Profile:Rita YUAN GAO". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ Lee, Veronica (21 July 2002). "Shuttle diplomacy". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ Lowe, Douglas (18 November 2006). "Chance to see a special player still setting a perfect example". The Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "World badminton ambassadorial call-up for Scottish student". www.stir.ac.uk. University of Stirling. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Scotland's team for U17 European Championships". www.badmintoneurope.com. Badminton Scotland. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Disability Badminton". Retrieved 19 September 2020.