[1] In a relatively short career at the top level, Dong won some of badminton's biggest events, including the prestigious All England and Denmark Open titles in 1997.

The successes of Dong and his contemporary and rival Sun Jun marked the start of a revival in men's badminton fortunes for China, which, after dominating in the 1980s, had lost the initiative to Indonesia.

Dong retired in 2001 without any job offer or pension from his employer, the Beijing municipal sports bureau.

Dong felt lucky he could carry his own legacy in the amateur sport arena.

He's spent money each year on improving the facilities while applying for an entry to the 2016 Paralympic Games.