Zhang Ning
Zhang Ning (Chinese张 宁, Pinyin Zhang Ning, born May 19, 1975 in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province ) is a badminton player from the People's Republic of China.
She also won the Badminton World Championship 2003 in Birmingham in women's singles. There they beat her Chinese compatriot and defending champion Gong Ruina with 11:6, 11:3 in the final.
Zhang took part in the 2004 Olympics in women's singles. She beat Marina Andrievskaya from Sweden and Kelly Morgan from the UK in the first two rounds. In the quarterfinals, Zhang Wang Chen from Hong Kong hit 9:11, 11:6, 11:7, to advance to the semifinals. There, she won against compatriot Zhou Mi 11:6, 11:4. In the final she beat Mia Audina from the Netherlands 8:11, 11:6, 11:7, and so won the gold medal.
In badminton tournament of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, she defended her gold medal success in the final against her compatriot Xie Xingfang. Zhang Ning is now in badminton the first athlete in an individual who has successfully managed to defend the title.
After the Summer Olympics 2008, she has worked as a trainer of the Chinese Dameineinzel.