Li Yongbo

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Li Yongbo (Chinese: 李永波; born September 18, 1962) is a retired Chinese badminton player and former head coach of China's national team. He was a quick and powerful men’s doubles specialist, teaming with Tian Bingyi to win many major events from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s.

Together, Li and Tian won the World Championships in 1987 and 1989, the All-England Championships in 1987, 1988, and 1991, and the Danish Open several times. They were part of China’s Thomas Cup teams that won world titles in 1986, 1988, and 1990. The duo also earned a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

After his playing career, Li became a coach for the Chinese national team. At the 2012 London Olympics, he was the women’s doubles coach. Some players were banned for “tanking” a match against South Korea, and Li admitted his role in the scandal, with reports saying he used fear and intimidation as part of his coaching approach.

Li stayed in a leadership role until after the 2016 Rio Olympics, when China won two gold medals; he stepped down in 2017.