# Anna Lao

Anna Oi Chan Lao AM (born 7 May 1962) is a former Australian badminton player. She is the most successful badminton player in the history of Australian badminton.
She was ranked 5th in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where badminton had only been introduced for the first time as an Olympic sport. Lao played in the quarterfinals for women's singles and women's doubles where most participants only make it through one discipline.
In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lao was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to badminton, sports & to the multicultural community.

## Career

Lao was ranked 2nd in China before she left to represent Australia in the Olympics, in which she was ranked 1st in Australia. She held the times of Master of Sports in China in 1985. Prior to her participation in the Olympics, she held the titles of the Australian Open in 1988, 1989 and 1991 in women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Lao also reached the semifinals of the 1989 Malaysia Open. She was also a champion at the 1991 New Zealand Open and the 1992 French Open. She was a semifinalist at the 1992 Swedish Open.

### 1992 Barcelona Olympics

Badminton was first introduced to the Olympic Games in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She placed 5th in women's singles & women's doubles.

#### Women's doubles

Lao played with her doubles partner Rhonda Cator. Their first game with Swiss players Silvia Albrecht & Bettina Villars were a success scoring 15–3, 15–6. Their second round was with Polish players Bożena Bąk & Wioletta Wilk Sosnowska where they won 15–3, 15–12. Lao and Cator entered the quarterfinals with the world champions Lin Yanfen & Yao Fen where they lost 13–18, 5–15.
1992 Summer Olympics – Women's doubles :
| Round | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1st | Rhonda Cator | Silvia Albrech Bettina Villars | 15–3, 15–6 | Win |
| 2nd | Rhonda Cator | Bożena Bąk Wioletta Wilk | 15–3, 15–12 | Win |
| QF | Rhonda Cator | Lin Yan Fen Yao Fen | 13–18, 5–15 | Lost |

#### Women's singles

Lao played a total of 4 games and entered the quarterfinals. Her first game was with Bettina Villars, whom she played against previously in doubles and won easily in two games. Her second round was with Camilla Martin, a player from Denmark who later on received the European Championship three times. Lao won 11–6, 12–11. She later played with the European champion at the time, Elena Rybkina. Lao won in three games. After winning the third round of games, she was placed in the quarterfinals where she versed world champion Tang Jiuhong, and lost both games.
1992 Summer Olympics – Women's singles $^{(1)}$ :
| Round | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1st | Bettina Villars | 11–0, 11–4 | Win |
| 2nd | Camilla Martin | 11–6, 12–11 | Win |
| 3rd | Elena Rybkhina | 7–11, 11–7, 11–8 | Win |
| QF | Tang Jiuhong | 1–11, 9–11 | Lost |

## Awards and recognition

* Courvoisier Award for Excellence Sports (1993)
* World Morning Cup 50-54 age Mix-Doubles Champion, Double 3rd (2012)
* World Morning Cup 50-54 age Mix-Doubles Champion, Double 3rd (2013)
* WCBF 20th Anniversary Individual Events 50-54 age Mix-Doubles Champion, Doubles 3rd (2013)
* Award Medal (AM) as a Member of the Order of Australia (2021)

## Achievements
### IBF International (11 titles, 2 runner-up)

Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1989 | Australian Open | Rhonda Cator | 11–5, 11–0 | Winner |
| 1990 | Australian Open | Susi Susanti | 1–11, 4–11 | Runner-up |
| 1991 | Australian Open | Rhonda Cator | 11–9, 11–1 | Winner |
| 1991 | New Zealand Open | Rhonda Cator | 11–0, 12–11 | Winner |
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1989 | Australian Open | Teresa Lian | Rhonda Cator Gillian Sanderson | 15–9, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1990 | Australian Open | Rhonda Cator | Lisa Campbell Susi Susanti | 15–8, 15–2 | Winner |
| 1991 | Australian Open | Rhonda Cator | Teresa Lian Song Yang | 15–3, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1991 | New Zealand Open | Rhonda Cator | Lisa Campbell Adele Macdonald | 15–7, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1992 | French Open | Rhonda Cator | Katrin Schmidt Kerstin Ubben | 15–7, 15–5 | Winner |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1989 | Australian Open | He Tim | Gary Silvester Tracey Small | 15–11, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1990 | Australian Open | He Tim | Ardy Wiranata Susi Susanti | 15–11, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1991 | Australian Open | He Tim | Peter Blackburn Lisa Campbell | 15–5, 15–4 | Winner |
| 1991 | New Zealand Open | Darren Macdonald | Peter Blackburn Lisa Campbell | 8–15, 16–17 | Runner-up |