Derek Wong

Derek Wong (born Wong Zi Liang, traditional Chinese: 黃梓良, 13 January 1989) is a retired Singaporean badminton player. Wong is a two-time Olympian, who took part at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, where he was flag bearer in the latter's Parade of Nations.[1]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wong.
Derek Wong
黄梓良
Wong at 2013 Axiata Cup
Personal information
Birth nameWong Zi Liang (黄梓良)
CountrySingapore
Born (1989-01-13) 13 January 1989
Singapore
ResidenceSingapore
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
HandednessRight
Men's singles
Career record185 wins, 156 losses
Highest ranking37 (29 January 2015)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Singapore
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Glasgow Mixed team
Southeast Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Vientiane Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Jakarta–Palembang Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Jakarta–Palembang Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Singapore Men's team
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Waitakere City Mixed team
BWF profile

Early life

Wong was born on 13 January 1989, in Singapore, to parents Wong Shoon Keat and Irene Lee. He grew up in a badminton-loving family with three other brothers (Shawn, Jamie and Jason). Both his parents are former national champions and they own a badminton shop at the old Singapore Badminton Hall. Wong started playing badminton, at age 5 when his father took him to the hall to play badminton for the first time. Since then, he would do his school homework at the shop before playing badminton with some friendly uncles in the hall till his parents closed the shop for the day.[2]

Wong turned professional in 2008 after consulting with his parents and peers, right after his O-levels.[2][3]

Career

2011 World Championships

Wong shocked Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat, a former Olympic champion in the second round of the World Championships. He defeated the Indonesian star 21–17, 21–14 to earn a place in the third round against Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark.[4]

2011 Southeast Asian Games

Wong upset Vietnam's Nguyễn Tiến Minh, then ranked in the world's top 10, at the quarterfinals of the Sea Games. He also came agonisingly close to upsetting the eventual gold medalist, Simon Santoso, in the next round. He led in the early stages of the semifinal match before succumbing to the Indonesian in straight sets.[4]

2012 London Olympics

Wong's Olympic debut ended after a 21–17, 21–14 loss to Jan Ø. Jørgensen in his final Group I match at London's Wembley Arena on 31 July to finish second in the three-man group. "Of course, I wanted to play more games instead of just two. But being in my first Olympics has been a huge experience, and one that I will use for my career," Wong said afterwards. He had earlier beaten Israel's Misha Zilberman 21–9, 21–15 on 29 July.[5]

2014 Commonwealth Games

Wong advanced to the men's singles final but lost to Parupalli Kashyap of India 14–21, 21–11, 21–19, winning a silver medal.[6]

2016 Rio Olympics

Wong qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics and was the Singaporean flag bearer.[5] During group play, he finished in second place in his group and did not advance.[7]

Retirement

After the 2016 Olympics, Wong resigned from the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA), thus confirming his retirement from professional badminton. He later joined consulting firm Deloitte on 26 September 2016, to start his post-badminton career. Wong is also looking to groom the next generation of shuttlers by opening his own badminton academy in the near future.[3][8]

Personal life

Wong started dating his fellow national shuttler Vanessa Neo in 2007 when he joined the national squad full-time.[9] They got married in May 2015 and have two children together.[4]

Awards

Wong received the 2013, 2015 and 2017 Meritorious Award from the Singapore National Olympic Committee.[10]

Achievements

Commonwealth Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2014 Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland India Kashyap Parupalli 14–21, 21–11, 19–21 Silver Silver

Southeast Asian Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2011 Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia Indonesia Simon Santoso 17–21, 12–21 Bronze Bronze

BWF International Challenge/Series

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2011 Iran Fajr International Indonesia Tommy Sugiarto 17–21, 21–18, 11–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2011 White Nights Chinese Taipei Hsu Jen-hao 18–21, 21–14, 12–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
2012 Vietnam International Indonesia Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo 17–21, 22–20, 21–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2013 Singapore International Chinese Taipei Lin Yu-hsien 21–18, 21–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
2015 Bahrain International Challenge India Sameer Verma 14–21, 10–21 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2011 Maldives International Singapore Ashton Chen Austria Jürgen Koch
Austria Peter Zauner		 21–19, 21–17 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

References
  1. "Derek Wong". Singapore National Olympic Council. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  2. "Derek's Story". deloitte.com. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  3. "Derek Wong quits badminton career for Deloitte job". The New Paper. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  4. "Shuttler Derek Wong at a career crossroads". The New Paper. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  5. "Team Singapore's flagbearer hopes possible Olympics finale is his best effort". Today. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  6. "Commonwealth Games: Shuttler Derek Wong lands silver in men's singles". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  7. "Men's Singles". Rio2016.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  8. "Derek Wong call it quits". badmintonplanet.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  9. "The love story of Derek Wong and Vanessa Neo". badmintonplanet.com. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  10. "Singapore Sports Awards". Singapore National Olympic Council. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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