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]

Yuan Wemyss
Personal information
CountryScotland
Born (1976-01-14) 14 January 1976 (age 48)
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

Career

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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

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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

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IBF World Grand Prix

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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

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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 Open   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

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  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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