Zhang Yining

Infobox Tabletennis player
playername= Zhang Yining


imagesize= 200px
caption =
fullname = Zhang Yining
nicknames =
nationality = CHN
playingstyle = Shake hands grip
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|10|05
birthplace = Beijing, China
deathdate =
deathplace =
medaltemplates=|

Zhang Yining (zh-s|张怡宁, born October 5, 1981 in Beijing) is a female Chinese table tennis player.

History

As of August 2008, she is ranked #1 in the ITTF rankings, in both women's singles and women's doubles. [ [http://www.ittf.com/] ] She has continuously held the ITTF #1 ranking since January 2003. She remains a dominant figure in women's table tennis. With 4 Olympic gold medals, 9 World Championships, and 4 World Cup wins, she is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of table tennis.

Zhang is also a graduate from Beijing Shichahai Sports School, where Li Jia Wei of Singapore studied at as well.

Successes

* 45th World Table Tennis Championships (1999) Women's Single Silver.
* 45th World Table Tennis Championships (2000) Women's Team Gold
* 5th Table Tennis World Cup (2001) Women's Single Gold.
* 46th World Table Tennis Championships (2001) Women's Team Gold
* 6th Table Tennis World Cup (2002) Women's Single Gold.
* 47th World Table Tennis Championships (2003) Women's Single Silver, Women's Double Gold.
* 47th World Table Tennis Championships (2004) Women's Team Gold
* 28th Olympic Games (2004) Table Tennis Women's Single Gold, Women's Double Gold.
* 8th Table Tennis World Cup (2004) Women's Single Gold.
* 48th World Table Tennis Championships (2005) Women's Single Gold, Women's Double Gold.
* 9th Table Tennis World Cup (2005) Women's Single Gold.
* 48th World Table Tennis Championships (2006) Women's Team Gold
* 49th World Table Tennis Championships (2007) Women's Double Gold.
* 11th Table Tennis World Cup (2007) Women's Team Gold.
* 49th World Table Tennis Championships (2008) Women's Team Gold
* 29th Olympic Games (2008) Table Tennis Women's Single Gold, Women's Team Gold.

Olympic record

2004 Summer Olympics

Zhang participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens winning double gold in both singles and doubles with her partner Nan Wang (who won double gold at Sydney as well).

Singles Result

Doubles Results

2008 Summer Olympics

At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Zhang took the Olympic Oath on behalf of all competitors at the Games. Zhang successfully defended her singles Olympic gold medal, defeating compatriot Wang Nan in the finals 8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3.

References

* [http://www.tabletennismaster.com/zhang-yining.html Zhang Yining, a living table tennis legend]