Li Fai Explained

Li Fai
Honorific Suffix:MH
Birth Date:30 May 1969
Birth Place:Guilin, Guangxi, China
Occupation:Martial artist, athlete, actor
Sport:Wushu
Event:Changquan, Taijiquan
Team:Hong Kong Wushu Team
Coach:Yu Liguong, Meng Huifeng
Retired:2002
Coaching:Juanita Mok
Show-Medals:yes

Li Fai (; born 30 May 1969) is a retired professional wushu taolu athlete from Hong Kong. She was a four-time world champion and was a medalist at the Asian Games and the East Asian Games.

Early life

Li was born in Guilin, Guangxi.[1] As a child she studied Peking Opera and when she moved to Hong Kong at the age of 15, she was hired as a traditional dancer at a nearby village.[2] While working there she was spotted by Hong Kong film director, Ching Siu-tung, and was recruited to help stand-in for actresses. Eventually she became interested in the sport of contemporary wushu and began seriously training in 1989.

Career

Early competitive career: 1989–1994

Li's international debut was at the 1990 Asian Games where she finished in fourth place in the women's changquan all-around event.[3] In the 1991 World Wushu Championships in Beijing, China, she won a silver medal in gunshu and bronze medals in changquan and qiangshu.[4] [5] In 1992 at the Asian Wushu Championships in Seoul, South Korea, she won a gold medal in gunshu, and silver medals in jianshu and changquan, thus earning the changquan all-around silver medal.[6]

Li then won the bronze medal in women's changquan all-around at the 1993 East Asian Games in Shanghai, China.[7] Shortly after this event, she announced that she was planning to retire from competitive wushu after her next competition, the 1993 World Wushu Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to focus on her career as a stunt-woman.[8] A few months later at the competition, she became the world champion in changquan and gunshu.[9] [10] She also won a bronze medal in jianshu. With these victories, she decided to continue her competitive wushu career.

In May 1994, Li developed a mysterious severe illness but recovered in time to perform exceedingly well in the Hong Kong team trials for the 1994 Asian Games.[11] Shortly after this, Li discovered she was pregnant, and so she dropped out of the Asian Games.[12]

Return to competitive wushu: 1998–2002

In 1998, Li returned to practicing wushu and decided to specialize in taijiquan. She trained in secret for a year until August 1999, when the head coach of the Hong Kong Wushu Team, Yu Liguang, announced her return to competition.[13] Under the SAR of Hong Kong for the first time, Li appeared at the 1999 World Wushu Championships in Hong Kong and became the first world champion in taijijian and also won a silver medal in taijiquan.[14] [15] [16] Two years later at the 2001 East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan, she was the flag-bearer and won the gold medal in women's taijiquan.[17] [18] Li then competed in the 2001 World Wushu Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, and was the world champion in taijijian.[19] Ahead of her participation at the 2002 Asian Games, her last competition, she was noted as one of the key potential gold medal winners for Hong Kong.[20] [21] She ended up winning the silver medal in women's taijiquan and later announced her retirement from competition.[22] [23]

Post-retirement

In 2000, she opened her school, the "Li Fai Wushu Center." Following her retirement as a competitive wushu athlete in 2002, she actively promoted wushu throughout Hong Kong through teaching and demonstrating. In 2003 during the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, she taught taiji on Hong Kong television. In 2004, Li Fai performed with Bobby McFerrin in Hong Kong[24] [25] and in 2006, Li was awarded the Medal of Honour in sport by the Hong Kong SAR government.[26] In 2012, she taught taijiquan to the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and First Lady Sabina Higgins at the World Economic Forum.[27] [28] That same year, she performed in the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II as well as in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

In 2018, one of Li's students, Juanita Mok, won the silver medal in women's taijiquan at the 2018 Asian Games.[29]

Personal life

Li Fai comes from a lineage of taiji and qigong experts in China. Her great-grandfather, Li Yulin, was a student of Sun Lutang, the progenitor of Sun-style taijiquan. Her grandfather, Li Tianchi, was said to be one of the individuals who developed the 24-form taijiquan in 1956.[30] Li Fai's father, Li Deyin, is a prominent coach, judge, and official in China. He held senior positions in the Chinese Wushu Association, was the head judge at the 1990 Asian Games, and was one of the creators of the 42-form taijiquan in 1989.

Awards

Awarded by the Hong Kong SAR Government:

Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 何. 漢聲. 21 March 2017. 【動感人語】辦真人騷式「武術王者盃」 李暉不安於位的香港精神. zh. [Moving Words] "Martial Arts King's Cup" with live-action Sao style, Li Hui's uneasy Hong Kong spirit. HK01. 4 July 2021.
  2. News: Chiu. Vivian. 28 December 1993. Fighter of the film set. 14. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021. .
  3. News: 4 October 1990. asiad-results-wushu. Xinhua General Overseas News Service. Beijing. subscription. 13 July 2021. 1020295.
  4. News: 13 October 1991. results at wushu (martial arts) worlds. Xinhua General Overseas News Service. Beijing. subscription. 13 July 2021. 1013144.
  5. Web site: The 1st World Wushu Championships. 4 July 2021. International Wushu Federation.
  6. Web site: 26 January 2011. 世界太极拳冠军李晖. World Tai Chi Champion Li Hui. 4 July 2021. World Taijiquan Net. zh.
  7. Web site: 1993. 第１回東アジア競技大会競技成績一覧. List of competition results for the 1st East Asian Games. 4 July 2021. Japan Wushu Taijiquan Federation. ja.
  8. News: Kitchell. Norideen. 20 May 1993. Li brings HK down with bump. 30. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021. .
  9. News: Walker. Jeremy. 8 January 1994. Honours etched in gold; Rare feats bring glory. 40. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  10. Web site: World Wushu Championships 1993 Results. 4 July 2021. International Wushu Federation.
  11. News: Kitchell. Norideen. 4 June 1994. Amazing recovery sees Li on top. 37. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021. .
  12. News: Chow. Aries. 27 August 2002. Li seeks missing element. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  13. News: Chow. Aries. 4 August 1999. Li planning HK comeback. 13. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  14. News: 6 November 1999. results at world wushu championship. Xinhua News Agency. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  15. News: Chow. Aries. 4 November 1999. Li set for return to glare of world stage. 28. South China Morning Post. subscription. 4 July 2021.
  16. Web site: World Wushu Championships 1999 Results. 4 July 2021. International Wushu Federation.
  17. News: Chow. Aries. 20 May 2001. Maturity and motherhood paying off for Li. 12. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  18. Web site: 2001. 3回東アジア競技大会《武術太極拳》競技成績一覧. 3rd East Asian Games "Wushu Taijiken" Competition Results List. 4 July 2021. Japan Wushu Taijiquan Federation. ja.
  19. Web site: World Wushu Championships 2001 Results. 4 July 2021. International Wushu Federation.
  20. News: 23 September 2002. Hong Kong's leading medal hopes. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  21. News: Alladin. Unus. 23 September 2002. Caution rules as SAR targets another gold rush. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  22. News: Sallay. Alvin. 13 October 2002. Li happy with silver as wushu breaks new ground; China wishes other countries to win,' says SAR star after Myanmar claim title. South China Morning Post. Busan. subscription. 6 July 2021.
  23. News: 12 October 2002. 图文-太极拳美女中国香港选手李晖展示亚运会银牌. zh. Photo-Tai Chi beauty Li Hui from Hong Kong, China shows the silver medal in the Asian Games. Sina Sport. 4 July 2021.
  24. News: Smith. Ken. 13 February 2004. Bobby McFerrin Hong Kong Cultural Center KEN SMITH THE CRITICS. USA Edition 1. 10. Financial Times. London, England. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  25. News: 28 October 2003. Surprise package. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  26. News: Cheung. Gary. 1 June 2006. Tung awarded HK's top honour; Former chief executive lauded for 'selfless dedication' to job. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  27. News: 3 September 2019. 李晖：父亲是我的灯塔. zh. Li Hui: Father is my beacon. Sohu. 4 July 2021.
  28. News: 1 October 2019. 海外侨胞传播中华文化. zh. Overseas Chinese spreading Chinese culture. Ta Kung Pao. 22 July 2021.
  29. News: 钱. 承飞. 11 October 2018. 香港"太极天后"李晖：让香港年轻人爱上太极. zh. Hong Kong "Tai Chi Queen" Li Hui: Let Hong Kong Young People Fall in Love with Tai Chi. Xinmin Evening News. 4 July 2021.
  30. Web site: Professor Li Deyin. 22 July 2021. www.deyin-taiji.com.
  31. News: Sallay. Alvin. 29 February 2000. Wong rides in to take San San's crown. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  32. News: 4 March 2002. Winners of HK Sports Stars Awards for 2001. Xinhua General News Service. Hong Kong. subscription. 13 July 2021.
  33. News: 16 February 2004. Last year's Sports Award winners. South China Morning Post. subscription. 13 July 2021.

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