Zhang ning badminton biography books

Zhang Ning

Badminton player, 2008 Olympic participant
Date of Birth: 19.05.1975
Country: China

Content:
  1. Biography of Zhang Ning
  2. Olympic Success
  3. Continued Success
  4. Transition to Coaching

Biography of Zhang Ning

Early Life and Career Breakthrough

Zhang Ning, a badminton player from the People's Republic of China, was born on May 19, 1975, in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. She made a breakthrough in her sporting career at the 2003 World Championships, where she stormed into the final. In the final match, 28-year-old Zhang Ning easily defeated Ruina Gong with a score of 11-6, 11-3.

Olympic Success

The following year, Zhang competed in badminton for China at the 2004 Olympic Games. In the women's singles competition, she defeated Marina Andrievskaya from Sweden and Kelly Morgan from Great Britain in the first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, Zhang won with a score of 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 against Wang Chen from Hong Kong, advancing to the semifinals. There, she emerged victorious in a game against compatriot Zhou Mi with a score of 11-6, 11-4. She then defeated the legendary Mia Audina with a score of 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 in the final, earning Zhang the gold medal in the competition. This victory over Mia was a sweet revenge for the 29-year-old Zhang, who had lost to her in the decisive match of the Uber Cup, the women's team world championship, ten years ago. With her Olympic triumph, Zhang became the second badminton player in the world to win the World Championship and the Olympic Games (the other being Indonesian player Taufik Hidayat).

Continued Success

Zhang went on to win numerous titles after her great victory. She won the Se Sin Fan at the 2005 Badminton Open in China, with a score of 3-11, 11-4, 11-8, but at the 2005 World Championships, she started losing ground, losing to Se Sin Fan with a score of 8-11, 11-9, 3-11. In 2006, Zhang reached the final of the World Championships again, but still could not defeat Sin Fan. This time, she lost with scores of 16-21, 14-21. However, Zhang was eager for a rematch. At the Japan Open, the badminton player crushed the famous Sin Fan with a score of 21-11, 16-21, 30-29. This was the 19th time she faced her head-to-head in an international tournament.

Zhang became the first female badminton player to win an international competition with a score of 30-29. In 2007, Zhang won the Singapore Open, defeating Sin Fan with scores of 21-18, 19-21, 21-3. At the World Championships, Sin Fan lost in the third round to Malaysian player Wong Mew Choo, making Zhang the favorite in the games. However, she was stopped by Wang Chen in the semifinals. This was the second time Wang Chen snatched victory from Zhang's hands after the Indonesian Open Games.

Transition to Coaching

Zhang's compatriot, Lin Zhu, defeated her in the final with a score of 21-8, 21-12. At the 'Beijing Good Luck' international tournament, Zhang reached the semifinals, only to withdraw from the competition due to injury.

At the Denmark Open Games, Zhang made it to the final but lost to her compatriot Lu Lan with scores of 17-21, 14-21, due to a hip injury. Zhang also reached the final of the French Open Games but unexpectedly suffered a defeat at the hands of Pi Hongyan, a local French-Chinese hopeful.

At the China Open Games, Zhang lost in the semifinals to Malaysian player Wong Mew Choo. Zhang cited her bruise and fatigue as the main reasons for her loss. The 2008 season started with Zhang losing in the first round of the Malaysian Open Games. She became a coach for her younger teammates and continued to serve in that capacity at the tournament. At the Korean Open Games, Zhang lost to Zhou Mi in the quarterfinals.

Both Zhang and Sin Fan, the top two badminton players, surprised their fans when they suffered a defeat in the first round at the England Games. This embarrassment may have happened for the first time, but both athletes soon bounced back, showing excellent form at the Swiss Open Tournament. Zhang and Sin Fan competed in the final, where Zhang ultimately lost with scores of 18-21, 17-21. Zhang Ning was included in the coaching staff of the Chinese National Badminton Team. "I am very pleased with this appointment. As a coach, I need to pass on my experience to the next generation. As a player, I won many gold medals, and now I want to be a coach of champions."

Still an active player, Zhang will continue her sporting career at the Beijing Olympics.