Zhang Yining
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yining
is a female Chinese
table tennis
player. She is considered one of the greatest female table tennis players in the history of the sport.
#1 ranking continuously from 2003 to 2009, except two months in 2008, remaining as a dominant figure in women's table tennis. With 4 Olympic
gold medals, 10 World Championships
, and 4 World Cup
wins. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was often referred to by commentators as "The Yellow Beast" denoting her dominance in the sport. She uses a specially made Zhang Yining ZLC for her blade made by butterfly, and tenergy 05 for forehand and tenergy 64 for her backhand.
Zhang is a graduate from Beijing Shichahai Sports School, where Li Jiawei of Singapore studied as well.
Zhang was married in October 2009 and has not been present in table tennis tournaments since then. She announced her retirement from international play in 2011 and she went to the United States
to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and learn to speak English. This makes her one of few players to retire whilst holding both the World and Olympic titles for singles and team event in table tennis. Zhang also said she would like to introduce Americans to the sport of table tennis. She says she plans to be in America for about 10 months, and has no plans after those months have expired.
in Beijing winning gold in both Women's Singles and Women's Team Competition. 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.
She is also the Women's Doubles Gold Medal Holder at the 2004 Summer Olympics
.
The following table shows the scores of the Women's Singles table tennis matches that Zhang Yining played during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games:
Click here to see further details regarding the 2008 Summer Olympics Table Tennis Competition Results
in Beijing
, Zhang took the Olympic Oath
on behalf of all competitors at the Games.
is a female Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player. She is considered one of the greatest female table tennis players in the history of the sport.
History
Zhang Yining held the ITTFInternational Table Tennis Federation
The International Table Tennis Federation is the governing body for all national table tennis associations.-Founding history:The ITTF was founded in 1926, the nine founding members being Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Sweden and Wales...
#1 ranking continuously from 2003 to 2009, except two months in 2008, remaining as a dominant figure in women's table tennis. With 4 Olympic
Table tennis at the Summer Olympics
Table tennis competition has been in the Summer Olympic Games since 1988, with singles and doubles events for both men and women. Athletes from China have dominated the sport, winning a total of 41 medals in 24 events, including 20 gold medals.-Events:...
gold medals, 10 World Championships
World Table Tennis Championships
The World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
, and 4 World Cup
Table Tennis World Cup
The Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
wins. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was often referred to by commentators as "The Yellow Beast" denoting her dominance in the sport. She uses a specially made Zhang Yining ZLC for her blade made by butterfly, and tenergy 05 for forehand and tenergy 64 for her backhand.
Zhang is a graduate from Beijing Shichahai Sports School, where Li Jiawei of Singapore studied as well.
Zhang was married in October 2009 and has not been present in table tennis tournaments since then. She announced her retirement from international play in 2011 and she went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and learn to speak English. This makes her one of few players to retire whilst holding both the World and Olympic titles for singles and team event in table tennis. Zhang also said she would like to introduce Americans to the sport of table tennis. She says she plans to be in America for about 10 months, and has no plans after those months have expired.
Successes
- 45th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(1999) Women's Single Silver. - 45th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2000) Women's Team Gold.. - 5th ITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsThe ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals is an annual table tennis tournament sanctioned by International Table Tennis Federation at the end of the year. The tournament includes six events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, U21 men's and women's singles...
(2000) Women's Single Gold. - 5th Table Tennis World CupTable Tennis World CupThe Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
(2001) Women's Single Gold. - 46th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2001) Women's Team Gold - 6th Table Tennis World CupTable Tennis World CupThe Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
(2002) Women's Single Gold. - 7th ITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsThe ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals is an annual table tennis tournament sanctioned by International Table Tennis Federation at the end of the year. The tournament includes six events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, U21 men's and women's singles...
(2002) Women's Single Gold. - 47th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2003) Women's Single Silver, Women's Double Gold. - 47th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2004) Women's Team Gold. - Games of the 28th OlympiadOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
(2004) Table Tennis Women's Single Gold, Women's Double Gold. - 8th Table Tennis World CupTable Tennis World CupThe Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
(2004) Women's Single Gold. - 48th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2005) Women's Single Gold, Women's Double Gold. - 10thNational Games of the People's Republic of ChinaNational Games of the People's Republic of ChinaThe National Games of the People's Republic of China , sometimes known as the All China Games , is the premier sports event in China at national level. It is usually held once every four years, most recently in October 2009, when the 11th National Games of the People's Republic of China took place...
(2005) Women's Team Gold,Women's Single Gold. - 9th Table Tennis World CupTable Tennis World CupThe Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
(2005) Women's Single Gold. - 10th ITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsThe ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals is an annual table tennis tournament sanctioned by International Table Tennis Federation at the end of the year. The tournament includes six events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, U21 men's and women's singles...
(2005) Women's Single Gold. - 48th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2006) Women's Team Gold. - 11th ITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsITTF Pro Tour Grand FinalsThe ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals is an annual table tennis tournament sanctioned by International Table Tennis Federation at the end of the year. The tournament includes six events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, U21 men's and women's singles...
(2006) Women's Single Gold. - 49th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2007) Women's Double Gold. - 11th Table Tennis World CupTable Tennis World CupThe Table Tennis World Cup has been held annually since 1980. There had been only men's singles until the inauguration of women's singles in 1996 and team competitions in 1990. The team competitions, the World Team Cup, were canceled until the relaunch in 2007, and now held in odd-numbered years...
(2007) Women's Team Gold. - 49th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2008) Women's Team Gold - Games of the 29th OlympiadOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
(2008) Table Tennis Women's Single Gold, Women's Team Gold. - 50th World Table Tennis ChampionshipsWorld Table Tennis ChampionshipsThe World Table Tennis Championships are held since 1926, biennially since 1957. Seven events were included in the Championships. The World Team Table Tennis Championships, which include men's team and women's team events, were first their own competition in 2000. The Team Championships are held in...
(2009) Women's Single Gold.
2008 Summer Olympics Women's Table Tennis Singles Results
Zhang participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing winning gold in both Women's Singles and Women's Team Competition. 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.
She is also the Women's Doubles Gold Medal Holder at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
.
The following table shows the scores of the Women's Singles table tennis matches that Zhang Yining played during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games:
| Round | Result | Opponent's Country | Opponent | Score | By Match | |||||||
| 1st | Bye | |||||||||||
| 2nd | Bye | |||||||||||
| 3rd | W |  Belarus |
Victoria Pavlovich | 4-0 | 11-7 | 11-2 | 11-7 | 11-5 | ||||
| 4th | W |  Japan |
Fukuhara Ai | 4-1 | 11-5 | 11-2 | 11-5 | 9-11 | 11-8 | |||
| Quarters | W |  Singapore |
Feng Tianwei Feng Tianwei Feng Tianwei is a Singaporean table tennis player, ranked sixth in the world as a singles player as of April 2011. Born in China, she began training in Singapore in March 2007 and commenced her international career in competitive table tennis the following month... |
4-1 | 13-11 | 12-14 | 14-12 | 12-10 | 13-11 | |||
| Semis | W | Singapore |
Li Jia Wei | 4-1 | 9-11 | 11-8 | 12-10 | 11-8 | 11-5 | |||
| Finals | W |  Mainland China |
Wang Nan | 4-1 | 8-11 | 13-11 | 11-8 | 11-8 | 11-3 | |||
Click here to see further details regarding the 2008 Summer Olympics Table Tennis Competition Results
2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Zhang took the Olympic Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
on behalf of all competitors at the Games.