At the age of 29, he won the Athens Olympic Games for the first time; at the age of 33, he successfully defended his title at the Beijing Olympics.
It is difficult for such a "old age" to achieve such dazzling results before the arrival of the 21st century.
However, Zhang Ning did it.
She was selected for the Chinese badminton team in 1991 and retired at the top in 2008. She has 17 years as a national player. She binds the most splendid time of her life with the glory of Guoyu.
From the world's number one, the first defending woman's singles Olympic champion, to the Olympic champion coach, to the recent selection of the World Badminton Hall of Fame, stepping into the highest hall of the world badminton...
Zhang Ning broke through his own shackles all the way, crushed outside doubts, inherited the national feather championship, and created his own "Ning Era" of badminton.
Looking back on the 36 years of badminton, why would Zhang Ning say that he is a "lucky" person?
Inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame
Sino-Singapore Sports: First of all, congratulations on your successful selection into the World Badminton Federation Hall of Fame. How do you feel along the way from being number one in the world, winning the Olympic champion, coaching the Olympic champion, and being selected into the Hall of Fame?
Zhang Ning:
I am very happy and proud to hear this news.
First of all, I would like to thank the World Badminton Federation for affirming me. At the same time, I also feel that I am a very lucky person: I have won two Olympic championships as an athlete, and there have been many world championships.
As the head coach of the national team’s women’s singles, he led the players to almost win all important events from 2009 to 2012, including the World Championships, Uber Cup and Sudirman Cup, as well as the 2012 London Olympics. Single champion and runner-up.
After leaving the national team, I began to work on the popularization of youth badminton, which was also recognized by everyone and affirmed by the World Badminton Federation.
I think I am a very lucky person. Thanks again and thank all those who have helped me and supported me.
Sino-Singapore Sports: What did you do as soon as you learned that you won this honor?
Zhang Ning:
Because we all know that there is a Hall of Fame selection before, but we haven't received any notice several times, so when the Chinese Badminton Association informed me that I was successfully selected into the Hall of Fame, I felt very happy and shared it with my family for the first time. glory.
Li Yongbo, the former head coach of the Chinese badminton team, and Wang Wenjiao, the pioneer of the new China badminton career (right).
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Chinese badminton team has been in the forefront of the badminton world since its development. More than a dozen athletes, including you and your master Chen Yuniang, have been selected into the Hall of Fame. How do you look at the heritage of Guoyu?
Zhang Ning: For
the development and improvement of China's badminton sports, we must first thank Wang Wenjiao, Chen Fushou, Fang Kaixiang, Chen Yuniang and other patriotic overseas Chinese for bringing advanced badminton technology and advanced training methods back to China.
I was fortunate enough to be taught by them. From them, I not only learned the true meaning of playing football, but also learned a lot of the principles of being a person and doing things.
The achievements of the Chinese badminton team are the result of the joint efforts of several generations.
In the past few decades, Chinese badminton has summarized many leading training methods, methods and tactical guiding ideologies in the world. It is also because of this that Chinese badminton has been able to take a leading position on the world stage for a long time.
I personally think that the development of Chinese badminton has been very good in all aspects.
From grassroots sports schools to professional teams to the national team, we have very dedicated coaches, and long-term accumulation has enabled them to master a wealth of methods of cultivating talents.
This is an advantage that we cannot replace compared with other countries.
Therefore, although we encountered some difficulties some time ago, this is also a normal sports cycle. I firmly believe that Chinese badminton can continue to achieve impressive results in the Olympics and on the world stage.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, 29-year-old Zhang Ning won the Olympic women's singles championship for the first time.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Ren Chenming
The making of the first person in women's singles
Sino-Singapore Sports: Many people define your career as a "late bloomer", in which there must be unimaginable persistence and hardships. Now you have the highest recognition in the world badminton. How do you evaluate your career?
Zhang Ning:
I entered the national team in 1991 and won my first world championship in 2003, which took 12 years.
Frankly speaking, it is difficult for ordinary people to hold on for such a long time in the national team in this situation.
In the past 12 years, I have tasted almost all the hardships, grievances and pains that I can taste as a sportsman.
At the 2003 World Championships, I was 28 years old.
At that time, my peers basically retired one after another.
Why can I hold on for so long?
It is because I always have a dream in my heart, that is to stand on the podium of the world champion.
In my career, I can almost say that it has condensed the sufferings, grievances, injuries, and blows suffered by many sports people... I clearly remember the Uber Cup final held in Indonesia in May 1994. , The scene after I lost to host Zhang Haili as the third singles.
Because of my defeat, the Chinese team lost the chance of six consecutive Uber Cup titles. First of all, I am full of self-blame, and I am willing to use harder and harder training to make up for my shortcomings.
However, no matter how hard I tried, I still lost the position of the main player in the team.
On February 10, 2004, the Chinese Badminton Team World Championship was on the list. Zhang Ning (first from right) and other nine world champions were on the list.
After 9 years of silent or marginalized life and training, I suffered too much and suffered too many grievances. That period of time was simply torment for me.
During the same 9 years, I accompanied several generations of players to become world champions and Olympic champions, but I still stayed in place. Most of the time I could only serve as a sparring partner. I only know the kind of grievances and sadness.
Many times, I only shed tears in the bed at night, so I don’t dare to let others see. I don’t know how many times I have cried, and I don’t know how many times I have had the idea of telling the coach that I will not practice anymore. I even wrote it many times. Okay, the retirement report is ready to be handed over to the leader.
However, just because I was unwilling to give up and give up my dreams, I was the first to get up and stand on the training ground when the ringtone of morning exercises rang the next day, even though I was only a fringe player or a sparring team.
In the end, I persevered. Fortunately, I also achieved many results that I didn't even dare to imagine.
There is no waste of suffering in life, and this is what I want to say.
Now, although the pain of the past is still vivid, I still feel that I am a lucky person.
At the Athens Olympics, Chinese badminton player Zhang Ning wicked Dutch star Zhang Haili won the first gold for Chinese badminton.
Sino-Singapore Sports: 29 years old, won the Athens Olympics for the first time; 33 years old, successfully defended the Beijing Olympics. Any number and moment are of great significance to the world and Chinese badminton. What is the meaning to you?
Zhang Ning:
On August 19, 2004, when I defeated Zhang Haili at the Athens Olympics, when I won the Olympic champion for the first time, the joy and excitement were beyond words.
I remember that I jumped up and hugged the coach. At that time, I could even say that I was full of confidence for the first time: From then on, I can look down upon the world of badminton!
On August 16, 2008, when I won the Olympic champion again, I knelt on the field, tears shed in an instant, because at that moment only I knew that I finally withstood the blow of injury again and withstood it. In response to the doubts from the outside world and withstood the pressure of the game, he can finally draw a perfect end to his badminton career.
Winning the two Olympics is a completely different experience and feeling for me, but in retrospect, both are the best rewards for my tenacious persistence.
So, I must say again, I am a lucky person.
Zhang Ning tearfully kissed the gold medal after the awards of the women's singles competition at the Athens Olympics.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Ren Chenming
Sino-Singapore Sports: We often say that a great athlete is something you can meet but cannot ask for. In your opinion, what are the qualities that you want to be such an athlete?
Zhang Ning:
Every athlete who persists and works hard is worthy of respect, even great.
And to become a great athlete in everyone's mind, I think three characteristics are indispensable, that is: persistence, perseverance, and perseverance!
Behind the "rigorous" coach
Sino-Singapore Sports: As a coach, your on-the-spot coaching was relatively serious. How do you get along with the athletes in private? I have suffered a lot during the athlete period. Will young athletes be as strict as they were at the beginning?
Zhang Ning:
Because I think the athletes are still young and have not experienced (many difficulties), I must tell them my experience so that they can avoid detours.
As a coach, I have to be more strict with them because I have experienced it.
Sometimes they may not understand, but even if I don't understand, I will stick to it. Only strict teaching will make them experience less (difficulty) in the game.
Although I am their coach, the age difference is not too big. They are more advanced than me in life, and there are some things that I don't understand. I have to learn more and communicate with them so that I can get along with the athletes more harmoniously.
In the first round of competition at the 2008 China Badminton Open in Shanghai, Zhang Ning (pictured right), a veteran of Chinese badminton and women's singles champion of the Beijing Olympics, made his debut as a national team women's singles coach and supervised the match, which attracted special attention. .
China-Singapore Sports: Now Guoyu female single sister Chen Yufei once said: "During my career, Zhang has taught me what'tenacity' is. As long as you work harder than others, ordinary people can stand. Above." Is this the thing you most want to leave to the younger generation?
Zhang Ning: It
is true, because I require them to be very strict in training. They usually endure more hardships, sweat more, and give more, so that they can make fewer mistakes, cry less, and regret less in the game.
Always set your goal at the highest standard. Only by practicing higher and stronger will your level be better. Only in this way can you ensure better performance in the game and better results. it is good.
Sino-Singapore Sports: Chen Yufei and He Bingjiao were once your disciples, and now they may be embarking on their first Olympic journey. What do you have to say?
Zhang Ning:
Chen Yufei is a very promising athlete. I was her coach in charge when she entered the national team.
I have always been optimistic about her. I remember who was the key training object when she first entered the first team, and there were differences in the team, so I supported Chen Yufei.
My intuition and experience tell me: Chen Yufei is a good seed.
But she also has a minor shortcoming, that is, her personality is relatively mild, so I always remind her on the court to be serious, to persevere, to be tough, and to be domineering.
At the 2019 China (Fuzhou) Badminton Open, Chinese player Chen Yufei defeated Japanese player Okuhara Hope to win the women's singles championship.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Lu Ming
Because of this, I talked about her and encouraged her. Sometimes she showed that she didn't care about winning or losing in the team's training games, so I criticized her and reminded her.
I just want to change her "gentle" temperament on the court.
But in the process of training and everyone competing together, her overall performance still played a leading role, so I think Chen Yufei is the most champion in the Tokyo Olympics.
With the increase of age and the improvement of game experience, she has matured a lot more than before, and she has become more determined on the court.
I haven't seen He Bingjiao for a long time. I watched her lose a lot on TV, which proves that her self-demand in training has been improved and more serious than before.
I take this opportunity to wish them the ability to defend the honor of the Chinese women's singles and hang the championship and runner-up medals on their necks.
In the London Olympics badminton women's singles final, Chinese player Li Xuerui defeated teammate Wang Yihan to win the gold medal.
Photo by reporter Sheng Jiapeng
Sino-Singapore Sports: The Tokyo Olympics, which will be postponed for one year, will soon be held. Guoyu is also facing a lot of challenges. Do you have any suggestions for the team's preparations, especially the women's singles event?
Zhang Ning:
The players representing the Chinese badminton team in the Olympic Games are all very young, so it is a big challenge for these athletes.
The first is the epidemic, and the second is that everyone did not participate in the competition this year.
In fact, I hope this group of children will not be afraid, because everyone has their first experience, so when facing a large-scale sports meeting, the more important thing is solid training.
Secondly, avoid injuries, and more importantly, face the Olympics with a good attitude.
When entering the Olympics, you must arrange your daily life and training, and make the most adequate preparations for each opponent before the game.
For Chen Yufei and He Bingjiao, their challenges will be greater. It is best to face their opponents with an opponent mentality. No matter who they encounter, it is more important to be yourself.
In 2006, Guoyu defeated the Netherlands in the Uber Cup final and won the Uber Cup five times in a row.
The picture shows Zhang Ning kissing the trophy.
Leave the field and take root
Sino-Singapore Sports: During the athlete's time, badminton was your career and the goal of your struggle. Now that you have children and families, is your mood different when you look at badminton?
Zhang Ning:
Although I am no longer a coach of the national team, my heart is still connected with badminton.
I am not only concerned about all badminton games, but also the results of Chinese women's singles.
Not leading the team on the front line also has an advantage, that is, it allows me to spend more time with my daughter and manage her studies.
At the same time, I have been doing youth training for badminton. Now there are many bases across the country. I will often go to see the children’s training and life, interact with the children, and continue to enjoy the happiness that badminton brings to me. .
Zhang Ning interacted with citizens taking selfies.
Photo by Chen Jimin issued by China News Service
Sino-Singapore Sports: After many athletes have children, their expectations of younger generations will change. There are also many people who support their children in sports. What do you think?
Zhang Ning: The same
is true for us. With the development of the child’s hobbies, of course we also let her be able to play badminton. I will respect the child for other hobbies, but the child still inherits the physical fitness of our couple, which is particularly good. , So we hope to respect the children's own choices.
Zhongxin Sports: Have you ever thought about what kind of person you would be if you hadn't been engaged in badminton?
Zhang Ning:
I think I will still be a sportsman, because I have loved sports since I was young, so I am fortunate that my physical education teacher has guided me to become a sportsman. The raising of the national flag of the country is the glory we return to the motherland.
Zhongxin Sports: Has the knee injury in the athlete period improved? Does it still affect life?
Zhang Ning:
My old knee injury still has a great impact on my daily life. Now, there will be water in the knee joint from time to time, and the pain will not stop after doing some exercises.
But this is also normal, the machines will wear out at high speeds every day, let alone people.
We have pursued higher, faster, better, and stronger in the past training, which will inevitably leave some sports trauma.
Zhang Ning and Dong Jiong interact with badminton enthusiasts
China-Singapore Sports: A great athlete will always work towards the highest point, the world's number one, win the Olympic champion, coach the Olympic champion, be selected into the Hall of Fame, what is the goal now?
Zhang Ning: Being
selected into the World Badminton Hall of Fame is an honor and motivation for me.
My goal is simple and clear, that is, to respond to the call of the country, to promote and popularize badminton in an all-round way, to help children master one or two sports skills, to keep fit, and to be happy and happy. The new generation of badminton players who have won glory for the country is even more happy.
Sino-Singapore Sports: You have been devoted to the promotion of Chinese badminton for many years. In your opinion, what is the current foundation of Chinese badminton? What are the plans for the future?
Zhang Ning:
China has a very good foundation in badminton, and it also has very good coaches. Coupled with the advanced experience accumulated over the years, the current and future of China's badminton are equally worth looking forward to.
Regarding the future, I will not think too far. I am willing to start more from the present and do some practical things down-to-earth, such as participating in the activities of Olympic champions entering campus, telling children about sportsmanship, Olympic experience, and inspirational stories, so as to help Children's moral, intellectual, physical, and aesthetic education has developed in an all-round way, ultimately achieving the goal of better popularizing and popularizing badminton.
(Reporter Wang Yu and Xing Chong)