The background of the two grows: the road of table tennis with similar origins
In 1981, in a family of ordinary knowledge young people in Beijing, a table tennis genius baby was born, she was Zhang Yining. Zhang Yining's parents came to Beijing to settle down for work, originally ordinary workers, but through hard work to become an intellectual youth, although life is poor, but full of hope.
Zhang Yining grew up in such an exciting era, and her cheerful and lively personality also deeply influenced her table tennis career.
When he was 6 years old, Zhang Yining picked up a table tennis racket for the first time and fell in love with the sport. Every weekend, her father always happily took her to the sports school court to practice. Watching the cute daughter wield the racket in her little hand, the father's smile was bright and warm.
Zhang Yining also happily collided with the ball back and forth, watching its bounce trajectory on the paddle with bright eyes.
At the same time, in an ordinary worker's family in Liaoning, there is also a girl of the same age as Zhang Yining, she is Wang Nan. Wang Nan is naughty and lively by nature, but at the same time he is also very sensible and obedient.
After starting table tennis at the age of 6, Wang Nan soon showed extraordinary talent and gave his parents hope. In order to become an excellent table tennis player, Wang Nan began to live an ascetic life, never stopping high-intensity training every day, and never complaining or giving up.
At the age of 14, Zhang Yining and Wang Nan passed the selection at the same time and became a member of the Chinese national table tennis team. When they got the national team uniforms, the excitement and pride in their hearts were beyond words.
This is not only an affirmation of their efforts, but also a bright future. The two came to the training base one after the other, started a common teammate life, and worked together to win glory for the country.
National team peers: the road of a team with glory and boredom
After being selected for the national team, Zhang Yining and Wang Nan began hard professional training. Not only do they have to adapt to intense physical training, but they also have to face tough opponents from all over the world.
However, the biggest challenge came from the same mentor – Coach Falcon. Lee.
Coach Li is strict and tough, but he can really bring out the best in his athletes. Under his training, Wang Nan's progress has been astonishing.
Li Ying values Wang Nan more and puts more energy on her. At first, Zhang Yining was inevitably a little stunned.
At that time, Wang Nan had grown into a star in the team, and his statistics were among the best. She has achieved great results in training and competitions, and is valued by her teammates and coaches alike. Zhang Yining, who is standing under Wang Nan's halo, also longs for attention and affirmation in his heart.
Every time she witnesses Wang Nan's success, she feels that she still has a big gap.
But Zhang Yining was not discouraged, but trained harder, hoping to catch up with Wang Nan one day. She began to train on her own for longer periods of time, working on improving her technique.
In the face of Li Falcon's coldness, she did not complain, but just silently worked hard and waited for the opportunity to come.
At the 1999 World Table Tennis Championships, 17-year-old Zhang Yining finally ushered in an opportunity. She has defeated many teammates and reached the final with Wang Nan. Although he failed to win in the end, Zhang Yining has since understood that as long as diligence can make up for his shortcomings, his dream can be realized.
This inspired her to work harder and lay the groundwork for surpassing Wang Nan in the future.
In the days of the national team, Wang Nan and Zhang Yining have experienced too many hardships and tests. But it was this period of sharing joys and sorrows that forged a strong friendship between them.
also laid the groundwork for their legendary showdown later.
Highlight Moments: Historic Showdown and Beyond
In the experience of the national team, Zhang Yining has become more and more courageous, and his strength has grown day by day. The 2004 Athens Olympics was a crucial moment for her to raise her eyebrows and make a splash.
Before the game, everyone regarded Wang Nan as the favorite to win the championship. But Zhang Yining responded calmly, defeated strong opponents one after another, and reached the finals. When she and Wang Nan met again, everyone was amazed at her progress.
This time, Zhang Yining has no ignorance, she is full of confidence and determined to rewrite history.
On the day of the final, Zhang Yining walked into the court calmly, and Wang Nan was also determined. The two took turns to start the game with powerful serves, and the atmosphere on the court was tense. Zhang Yining actively attacked and forced Wang Nan into a corner.
Wang Nan is experienced and stabilizes the situation after defense. But Zhang Yining's fast attack changed angles, and King was powerless to parry.
The first game was quickly won by Zhang Yining, and Wang Nan also felt the pressure. She adjusted her form and was good at returning the ball steadily in the second game to equalize the score. Zhang Yining was not discouraged, she was more active in the tiebreaker, while Wang Nan made mistakes.
In the end, Zhang Yining won by a big score and achieved a historic surpass over his old opponent.
At that moment, Zhang Yining was so excited that she knelt on the ground and shed tears. The memory goes back to her youth, and she once wandered under Wang Nan's aura. Now that she has finally proved her strength and completed the transformation, her efforts have not been in vain.
This is not only a personal victory, but also a reward for the expectations of the teacher.
Zhang Yining, who won the gold medal, became the new first sister in the Chinese table tennis world. But she didn't hate Wang Nan because of this, but respected her more. After her achievements, she remained humble and eager to learn and train hard.
This quality is also where Wang Nan has influenced her over the years. A game is just a game, and their private friendship lasts forever.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they met again in the final......
After retiring: a youthful and affectionate friendship
After the glorious years of ups and downs, Wang Nan and Zhang Yining also came to say goodbye to the game. In 2009, Wang Nan was the first to announce his retirement. Leaving the honor and stage brought to her, she couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion.
Teammates came to say goodbye to her, and the scene was warm and reluctant.
A year later, Zhang Yining also ended his career. On that day, she put on the national team uniform and walked into the venue accompanied by her mother. Recalled, she couldn't help but shed tears of emotion.
In her 15-year career as a player, she has contributed too much glory to Chinese table tennis, and at this moment, she has also received the highest level of tribute.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining's overlapping youth years have carved a deep friendship. After retiring, they still keep in touch often, looking back on the past together. No matter where they are, they send each other blessings on each other's birthdays.
Sometimes, they will be the center of attention.
Fifteen years later, they have each started a family. But whenever they mention each other, they are still the most familiar conversations. Those years of eating, living and working together firmly bound their friendship.
Perhaps, it is precisely because they have experienced the test of competition that they know how to cherish it more.
On the long road of life, some old people will eventually drift and separate. But Wang Nan and Zhang Yining are like trees supporting each other, growing thicker and thicker, with deep roots and lush leaves. The true feelings they weave with their youth have become more and more tenacious under the polish of time, setting a model of friendship.
Summary: The legendary combination of Chinese table tennis
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining are one of the most outstanding combinations in the history of Chinese table tennis.
They have a strikingly similar upbringing, and they have a legendary rivalry on the field. Wang Nan was selected for the national team first, and Zhang Yining came later; Wang Nan reached the top first, and Zhang Yining later surpassed.
They have pushed Chinese table tennis to one peak after another and are well-known in the world table tennis arena.
Even at the height of their competition, they never fought each other and always maintained a valuable friendship. After many years of retirement, they still often spend time together and share friendships.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining represent the outstanding demeanor of Chinese table tennis and have also become outstanding examples of friendship. Their stories deserve to be Xi and remembered by every Chinese student.