Female badminton player Li Lingwei was born in Lishui, Zhejiang in 1964. She was selected to Zhejiang provincial badminton team in 1977 and the national badminton team in 1980.

In 1982, she won the championship in women’s singles at the Japan Open Badminton Championships, and was the champion in badminton women’s team and runner-up in women’s singles at the New Delhi Asian Games. In 1983, she claimed the championships in women’s singles at the 3rd BWF World Championships and women’s doubles at the World Cup Badminton Tournament. She secured the gold medals at the Uber Cup in 1984 and 1986, respectively. She also won the championship in women’s singles at the World Cup Badminton Tournament in 1985.

She was the champion in badminton women’s team and runner-up in women’s singles at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.