Cover Person | Zhang Ning: Meeting a Better Version of Herself

Jayce September 6, 2024 3 0

Zhang Ning gracing the cover of this year’s “Golden September” issue of the magazine seems to be a predestined arrangement. At the closing ceremony of a badminton summer camp at the end of this summer, we saw Zhang Ning, with tears in her eyes once again. Unlike the excitement and tears when winning championships in the past, this time it was a scene of her reluctant farewell to the young campers. Those who know Zhang Ning well understand that behind her “shallow eye sockets” lies her true and sincere nature.

We have been fortunate to accompany her journey, witnessing her rise from the sidelines to Olympic double champion, and then standing as a coach for ten years. Throughout her different roles, Zhang Ning has always shone with the aura of a “great female protagonist.” From athlete to coach, whether facing headwinds or tailwinds, she has always maintained an upward posture. In her return to everyday life, each encounter is still greeted with her straightforward and cool demeanor, admiring her gentle yet resilient, mature yet romantic nature.

For Zhang Ning herself, maintaining her original intention and upward strength is the source of her continuous encounters with a better version of herself.

Zhang Ning

Growing Together Along the Way

Four years after returning to daily life, following Zhang Ning’s usual time rhythm, this has passed a competitive cycle. However, this time, she unexpectedly feels that time has flown by, and her daughter seems to have grown up in the blink of an eye. From crying like a life-and-death separation at each farewell, her daughter, now in the third grade of primary school, has reached the age of whispering secrets with friends.

At home, Zhang Ning has softened a lot. Compared to being a “strict teacher,” perhaps being a “mother” is the most challenging role in the world. The daily companionship with her daughter has brought new insights and feelings about everything related to “motherhood.” Faced with this infinitely beautiful yet time-consuming and laborious long journey, Zhang Ning accepts it with joy and anticipation.

Zhang Ning said that although there is a daughter at home, “quiet” does not exist in their family genes. This summer, Zhang Ning fully unlocked badminton with her daughter, Kexin. Initially, she had Kexin wave the badminton racket for a few days, but after the pandemic hit, they never touched it again. Therefore, in her own badminton summer camp, like countless champion parents, Zhang Ning cautiously observed whether her daughter had inherited any badminton talent from her or her husband. Seeing her daughter master new moves one after another, Zhang Ning would always smile with satisfaction. Indeed, nature is wonderful.

However, badminton is not the only sport Zhang Ning lets her daughter experience. Kexin also joined the gymnastics club at school. Zhang Ning does not make any decisions for her daughter, as she believes children are naturally prepared to make their own choices and follow their own paths. Like her daughter’s diary, filled with German words, Kexin would always wave her little hand and say, “Mom, I’m not afraid of you seeing this.”

Zhang Ning

From Summer Camp to Planting Badminton Hope

“I will miss you, kids!” As soon as Zhang Ning said this, tears rolled down her cheeks. In early August, Zhang Ning’s badminton charity summer camp was held at the Zhang Ning Badminton Training Base in Weixian County, Hebei Province. This was the first time Zhang Ning hosted a badminton summer camp, personally leading the team and providing a seven-day basic badminton training for more than 30 local primary and secondary school students. Throughout the week, Zhang Ning felt like she had returned to the familiar collective time of the past.

“The routine these days has been so regular that I found my habit of taking naps again.” Every day, Zhang Ning would wake up at 6 a.m., wake her daughter, wash up, tie her ponytail, and have breakfast. By 8 a.m., they would arrive at the gym, starting the day’s training with warm-up activities. She laughed and said, “After accompanying the child during summer vacation, then starting the summer camp, our biological clocks became regular.” After a few days of training, Kexin told her that she felt sore all over and wanted to give up, but Zhang Ning encouraged her, saying, “The more you feel it’s hard, the more you need to persist. Real badminton players often have unevenly developed arms, but they know it’s the result of their hard work and effort.”

Besides Kexin, Zhang Ning also brought along the daughter of her good friend, former national footballer Shao Jiayi. The two little friends, classmates and buddies, sweated it out on the court together. “Waking up in the morning is always a challenge for them, but being together helps. Even though they say their bodies hurt after training, they are always energetic on the court,” Zhang Ning said. With only a week’s time, Zhang Ning cherished every class with the young campers. The youngest camper was only eight years old, but he followed Zhang Ning’s instructions earnestly. Zhang Ning, known for her high standards, patiently corrected every action in each class, from lifting hands higher to tossing the shuttlecock at the right time. To attract the children’s attention, Zhang Ning often raised her voice a pitch higher, which meant she had to take throat lozenges every day.

After each session, Zhang Ning would take out her handwritten training plan from her bag and make adjustments based on progress with the assistant coaches for the next group arrangements. “After two days of classes, we would divide the children into different groups based on their levels, so they could better cooperate in ball games. A feature of the camp is that children motivate and promote each other.”

During her tenure coaching the national team, Zhang Ning trained many world and Olympic champions. She holds the same high standards even with beginners, ensuring actions are correct and igniting their interest in the sport. Among the campers, Zhang Ning was particularly impressed with a nine-year-old girl, Kang Yihan, who had a tendency to get distracted during group activities but learned quickly with one-on-one instruction. After a few days of focused attention, Zhang Ning noticed Kang Yihan’s increasingly serious attitude towards practice. Outside training, Kang Yihan loved being around Zhang Ning, curious about her coach’s activities. She secretly told her mother, “Coach Zhang Ning cares so much about me; I must practice well.”

Inspired by these pure and lovely children, Zhang Ning was full of energy. She said, “Maybe the kids don’t know what an Olympic champion is, or what that stage is like, but they surely feel that ‘Coach Zhang Ning plays beautifully!’ That’s the basic charm of badminton,” Zhang Ning said, smiling confidently.

Therefore, at the closing ceremony of the summer camp, when Zhang Ning summarized the week’s time, she couldn’t help but shed tears. She sincerely said, “In seven days, I saw your sweat, your commitment, your persistence, and most importantly, your smiles. As I said on the opening day, badminton is a sport that can bring you happiness. Although seven days is short, I hope you have felt the charm of badminton and enjoyed the fun of playing. I have coached Olympic and world champions, and compared to them, your dedication and hard work are equally impressive, even more lovable. We are delighted to see each of you making significant progress, whether in badminton skills, team spirit, or personal resilience and willpower. Although I will return here and meet you again, this summer is when I say goodbye to you.” Hearing this, several young campers on the sidelines burst into tears. This summer appointment, connected by badminton, became the starting point for their next companionship.

Zhang Ning

From a Handful of Millet to Badminton Charity

“No matter if it’s training or life now, I always maintain a serious attitude towards everything I do.” Zhang Ning always strives to accomplish what she sets her mind to. The summer camp was Zhang Ning’s effort to contribute to Weixian through badminton, all starting from a “handful of millet.”

Years of athlete experience shaped Zhang Ning. When she was invited to give a lecture at Yihai Kerry’s Jinlongyu factory in Zhangjiakou, Weixian early last year, she learned that Yihai Kerry established the factory in Weixian, a once impoverished county, to help the local people out of poverty. Deeply moved, Zhang Ning and Weixian County Secretary Liu Ruige did a special charity live broadcast on JD.com during Double 11 last year, selling love-themed millet produced by Yihai Kerry, with all profits going back to local farmers. This charity sale ranked first in JD.com’s grain and oil category during last year’s Double 11.

That live broadcast made Zhang Ning realize the real value and significance of using her influence to help rural revitalization in Weixian. Thus, she began planning a charity badminton training event, using her professional skills to bring the joy of badminton to the children there.

Subsequently, Yihai Kerry officially designated the gymnasium of Yihai Primary School as Zhang Ning Badminton Training Base. Combining her professional experience, Zhang Ning remodeled the original basketball gym, changing its interior colors and floors. She painted the walls blue to enhance children’s concentration while playing badminton and replaced the green floor with bright orange to make the gym livelier. Large photos of Zhang Ning’s two Olympic victories are also hung in the gym, inspiring the children to dream big and challenge themselves. Now, the gym has four standard courts, and Zhang Ning also brought auxiliary training equipment and badminton gear.