Yuan Wemyss
Personal information
CountryScotland
Born (1976-01-14) 14 January 1976
Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
ResidenceStirling, Scotland
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Retiredin 2006
HandednessRight
CoachDan Travers
EventWomen's singles & doubles
Medal record
Women's badminton
Representing  Scotland
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Manchester Mixed team
BWF profile

Yuan Wemyss (also known as Rita Yuan Gao, Yuan Gao and Rita Pickering; Chinese: 高源; born 14 January 1976) is a former Chinese-born 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 Scottish National badminton coach Dan Travers who in turn began supporting her for playing further Badminton and represent Scotland at international stage. She there got her nickname Rita, then after dubbed as Rita Yuan Gao.[2] She is also known as 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 Scotland Sandra Watt Netherlands Erica van den Heuvel
Netherlands Nicole van Hooren		 4–15, 7–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

IBF International

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2006 Portugal International Canada Anna Rice 21–9r 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2005 Miami International Canada Anna Rice 11–3, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2005 Peru International Canada Anna Rice 2–11, 11–1, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2005 Finnish International Scotland Susan Hughes 8–11, 9–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2005 Portugal International Switzerland Jeanine Cicognini 7–11, 11–3, 11–8 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 Scottish International England Jill Pittard 11–4, 3–11, 13–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 Iceland International Scotland Susan Hughes 7–11, 2–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2004 Norwegian International Germany Petra Overzier 1–11, 6–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2000 Irish International England Elizabeth Cann 9–11, 11–2, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2000 New Zealand International New Zealand Rhona Robertson 3–11, 9–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2005 Portugal International Bulgaria Petya Nedelcheva Germany Kathrin Piotrowski
Germany Sandra Marinello		 15–8, 11–15, 2–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2004 Welsh International Bulgaria Petya Nedelcheva England Katie Litherland
England Julie Pike		 17–14, 15–0 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2004 Norwegian International Scotland Michelle Douglas England Liza Parker
England Suzanne Rayappan		 0–15, 15–13, 8–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2002 Iceland International Scotland Kirsteen McEwan Iceland Katrin Atladóttir
Iceland Drifa Hardardóttir		 11–3, 11–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 Scottish International Scotland Kirsteen McEwan Germany Nicole Grether
Germany Juliane Schenk		 Walkover 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2002 Slovak International Scotland Kirsteen McEwan Russia Natalia Gorodnicheva
Russia Elena Sukhareva		 11–5, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2001 Scottish International Scotland Sandra Watt Scotland Kirsteen McEwan
Scotland Susan Hughes		 7–4, 7–0, 6–8, 7–0 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2004 Iceland International Scotland Graeme Smith England Hayley Connor
England Peter Jeffrey		 7–15, 15–7, 13–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

References

  1. ↑ "Profile:Rita Yuan Gao". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Lee, Veronica (21 July 2002). "Shuttle diplomacy". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Lowe, Douglas (18 November 2006). "Chance to see a special player still setting a perfect example". The Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "World badminton ambassadorial call-up for Scottish student". www.stir.ac.uk. University of Stirling. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Scotland's team for U17 European Championships". www.badmintoneurope.com. Badminton Scotland. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Disability Badminton". Retrieved 19 September 2020.
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