Zhang Ning (L) of China celebrates after defeating teammate Xie Xingfang at the women's singles gold medal match during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games badminton event, in Beijing, China, Aug. 16, 2008. Zhang Ning won the match 2-1 and grabbed the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang) Thirty-three is an age normally considered far above the retirement limit for professional badminton players, especially female players.
But defending champion Zhang Ning ignored, defied and conquered all the disadvantages. She finally retained the title after an exhausting match against top seed and Chinese teammate Xie Xingfang.
"It has been too hard," Zhang shed happy tears for several times after the final, on the court, on top of the podium, and at the mixed zone.
"Every time I told reporters that there was no problem with my physical strength, but actually I was struggling with my physical condition and injuries in each game."
She said emotionally, "I could hardly believe that I had survived all the adversities."
It was also hard for chanting spectators in the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium to believe that the veteran who stood in the spotlight had survived a ten-year period of depression at her prime age.
In the Uber Cup final in 1994, Zhang was dispatched as the third single to fight against Mia Audina, a badminton prodigy from Indonesia when the final was tied at 2-2.
However, the then 19-year-old Chinese girl, surrendering to the huge mental pressure and enormous home advantage of Indonesia, was defeated by Mia and thus yielded the Uber Cup to Indonesia.
As a result of the heart-breaking defeat, she faded into obscurity in the Chinese national team, outshone by her peers like Ye Zhaoyin, Han Jingna, and younger players, such as Olympic champion Gong Zhichao, world champion Gong Ruina.
But the indomitable fighter never had been overcome by all the adversities she faced. Ten-year solid training made her explode at the 2003 World Championships in Birmingham, Britain, where she claimed her first world title at the age of 28.
One year later, Zhang took a sweet revenge in the final at Athens Olympics over Mia Audina who represented the Netherlands after married to a Dutch gospel singer, and pocketed the gold medal for China.
The glory didn't stop her from pursuing higher career goal, as the great shuttler continued her journey at international badminton tournaments after 2004 in surprisingly good form, bagging numerous titles at World Grand Prix competitions hosted by the Badminton World Federation in 2005 and 2006.
Although her shape seemed to slip down due to the injuries in her knees and ankles, she still guaranteed herself a ticket to the Beijing Olympics, edging out current world champion Zhu Lin with her precious experiences and unyielding spirit.
"I won't feel surprised at all if Zhang Ning wins the gold medal," said Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese national badminton team ahead of the Games.
"The words had greatly encouraged me to fight on the court," she said, hanging the invaluable golden-inlaid-jade medal around the neck of the coach after the medal ceremony.
Source: Xinhua
