Phyllis Chan

Biography

One of Canada’s top doubles players, Phyllis Chan has won three straight national titles with Alex Bruce since 2013. Together they reached the quarterfinals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, matching her mixed doubles result with Derrick Ng. Chan is a three-time medallist in women’s doubles at the Pan Am Championships, her best result being the gold she won with Bruce in 2012. She made her first world championship appearance in 2014 and reached a career-high doubles ranking of 42^nd in February 2015.

PERSONAL

Family: Father Kai Kit Chan, mother Rosaline So… Older sister Phoebe… The sisters used to play doubles together; best result was bronze at 2008 Canadian Championships… The family moved to Vancouver to care for her grandparents who had immigrated earlier… Getting into the Sport: Started playing badminton at age 6… Her father loved the sport but never got to take lessons in Hong Kong… Her sister was signed up to play and when it looked like fun, she begged to join as well… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2014 (Bachelor of Arts, major in Myth and Literature of Greece, Rome and the Near East, minor in Near Eastern Studies)… Enjoys reading and watching anime… Coaches part-time at Ace Badminton Centre… Canadian Ambassador for Solibad – Badminton Without Borders… Odds and Ends: Role model is two-time Olympic singles champion Zhang Ning who at 33 is the oldest to win Olympic gold in women’s singles, inspiring her to never give up… Re-ties her shoes before every game, a routine she carried over from skating… Always wears a necklace with a silver shuttlecock, lucky horseshoe and penguin charm… Also has a jade charm to keep her safe in travels… Carries her boyfriend’s stuffed childhood animal Monkey to keep her company… Always on the lookout for exotic coins for a friend’s collection…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

CWG: 2014 – QF (doubles), QF (mixed)

BWF WCh: 2014 – Rd of 64 (doubles)

PAC: 2014 – BRONZE (doubles); 2013 – SILVER (doubles); 2012 – GOLD (doubles), SILVER (mixed doubles), QF (singles); 2010 – BRONZE (singles); 2009 – QF (singles), Rd of 16 (mixed doubles)