Newly crown Olympics Gold medalist Zhang Ning is retiring. Zhang Ning just received official approval for her retirement application. Li Yongbo has expressed that he wish she would take up a coaching position in the team. but there is no report on whether she would do so or not. in other news, the Chinese team will take one day off and then resume training for the preparation of the upcoming Japan Open.
she's like 32 or 33, which is very old for the CHN squad. i hope she takes up a coaching role, would be a shame to waste her experience.
Nooo! Zhang Ning is really talented, she should participate in at least one more Olympic (the 2012 London Olympics) Oh well, she had a great career and hopefully her badminton experienced could be passed on to her teammates that are younger than her. Anyway, good job Zhang Ning, you made a huge mark in history of Woman's badminton.
Zhang Ning already said that she will retire right after Olympics. Weather she get the gold or not. Fortunately she got it gold.
That is one woman who'll be remembered in badminton's history books... anyway who else in the history of badminton retained an olympics title?
salute and respect to a wonderful player... always smiling, always giving her best... deserves her gold medals back 2 back... legendary status, sealed! hehe...
Only Zhang Jun/Gao Ling in mixed doubles(00 and 04) and Ge Fei/Gu Jun in ladies doubles(96 and 00). Gei/Gu was especially impressive, not losing a set in both and outscoring opponents 150-49 in Atlanta and 150-55 in Sydney. The closest any singles player to win 2 olympics is Bang Soo Hyun (Silver,92; Gold, 96); Susi Susanti (Gold, 92, Bronze, 96) [nt: Susi bt Bang in 92, Bang bt Susi in 96]; Mia Audina (Silver 96 and 04). No men singles player has won more than 1 medal. Closest is Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen who reach the quarter finals in 92 and won the gold in 96; the only European Gold medal winner to date in badminton.
It's as expected that we know that she'll retire, but it's pretty sad to see a great badminton player like Zhang Ning leave the circuit. She's one of my favorite women's singles player. I like her deceptiveness and most of all, I think it crazy that she plays the game at such a great pace. It's sad to see that she's calling it a day since she still have so much in her. But at 33 yrs old and playing at pro level, I think it's taking a toll on her body. I truly doubt that she'll take on coaching as she probably want to concentrate on building a family. For sure though I'll miss seeing her big smile and jumping for joy when she wins a tournament.
i hope she stays on to help out the national team as advisor or coaching role even if on part time basis. If i was her and stop badminton cold turkey, i think i'll feel lost.
Zhang Ning: Our Great Ambassador of Badminton . Yes, it's always great to see Zhang Ning playing. She's always having a determination to play her best at every tournament. Will miss her for sure. Zhang Ning: Our Great Ambassador of Badminton. .
She is definitely an excellent player. In the broadcast of the documentary of her Road to the Olympics, she met up with a friend that had not made it to her level and had quit to pursue a regular family life. Zhang Ning expressed some wistfulness for that lifestyle. Perhaps she can at least try to establish such an existence. However, as her husband will probably be continuing his coaching, it is unlikely that she'll back out of the badminton world completely. She's just probably hoping to see him more, as she didn't get the chance to while training for the Olympics.
I think it is surely unlikely she will not take the coaching position offered to her.... ...unless it is a position that will involve travelling, in which case she might like a position close to her husband, who I believe does not travel with the Tournament team - is this correct?
