Zhang Ailing is a retired female badminton

Badminton

Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...

 player of China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

.

Career

In 1978 Zhang won the rival "world championship" that was run by the short-lived World Badminton Federation

World Badminton Federation

The World Badminton Federation is a former badminton organization, it was founded in February 1978 and ceased its operation on May 26, 1981 after it merged with the International Badminton Federation ....

 prior to China's entry into the International Badminton Federation

International Badminton Federation

The Badminton World Federation is the international governing body for the sport of badminton. Founded in 1934 as the International Badminton Federation with nine member nations , the BWF has since expanded to 165 member nations around the world...

 (now Badminton World Federation). She was also the dominant international singles player right after China joined the IBF in 1981, winning the multi-sport World Games

World Games

The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...

 in 1981, the Asian Games

Badminton at the Asian Games

Badminton is one of the regular Asian Games sports since 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia.-History:Badminton made its debut in the Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, and became a regular competitive sport in 1962. In the 1962 Games, six events were held, with...

 in 1982, and the prestigious All-England Championships

All England Open Badminton Championships

The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...

 in both 1982 and 1983, as well as a host of other significant titles. In the 1983 IBF World Championships

1983 IBF World Championships

-Medalists:-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's doubles:-Mixed doubles:-Medal table:-External links:* * * * *...

, however, she was beaten in the semifinal by Chinese teammate Han Aiping

Han Aiping

Han Aiping is a former Chinese badminton player in the 1980s who ranks among the greats of the woman's game. Noted for her superb overhead strokes, she and her teammate, rival, and sometimes doubles partner Li Lingwei dominated international singles play for most of the decade, each winning the...

 and after this result was unable to regain her previous dominance. Zhang played third singles on China's 1984 Uber Cup (women's international) team which won the team world championship. Whether because Zhang, by then in her late twenties, could no longer beat her teammates Han and Li Lingwei

Li Lingwei

Li Lingwei is a Chinese badminton player of the 1980s who ranks among the greatest in the history of the women's game. A brilliant all-around player whose court coverage and net play were particularly impressive, she maintained an overall edge on her teammate, rival, and sometimes doubles partner...

, or because of her marriage to fellow Chinese player Chen Changjie

Chen Changjie (badminton)

Chen Changjie is a former badminton player from China who rated among the world's leading singles players for a short period of time after China joined the International Badminton Federation in 1981...

, she disappeared from international badminton after the 1983-1984 season.