(Source: All content stated in this article is based on reliable sources, and is repeated at the end of the article)
Preamble:
In 1996, after Wang Nan finished a day's training, she returned to the dormitory to rest, until she was lying on the bed, she found that there was an extra person in the room, she was Zhang Yining.
Looking at the doubts on Wang Nan's face, Zhang Yining hurriedly explained that the coach specially asked her to live here so that she could learn Xi from Wang Nan.
Maybe they didn't expect to live together for 7 years, just when everyone thought they were like sisters, but they hadn't seen each other for 8 years.
So, what happened between Wang Nan and Zhang Yining, and how many "grievances" did they have?
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Sisterhood is deep
After explaining, Zhang Yining picked up a rag to wipe the table, but she didn't wring out the rag, causing the water on the table to fall down one by one.
Wang Nan
Seeing such a scene, Wang Nan knew that the other party should be "pampered", so he took the initiative to take over the cleaning work, unless he was too tired from training, he would clean it every day.
Slowly, Wang Nan became the most affectionate "Sister Nan" in Zhang Yining's mouth, usually training together, and sitting together during meals.
Wang Nan
In 1998, the Chinese women's table tennis team participated in the Asian Games in Bangkok, and Wang Nan and Zhang Yining were among them, but one was the main force to win the championship, and the other just followed.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
At that time, in order to play better, Wang Nan often trained to the point of forgetting to sleep and eat, which made Zhang Yining, who was also a roommate, distressed, and she took on the responsibility of bringing food for Wang Nan.
Wang Nan
In a later interview, Wang Nan talked about the "hamburg incident", which let everyone know how precious their friendship is.
At that time, Zhang Yining brought the hamburger back, and as soon as she pushed the door open, she called Wang Nan to eat, but she didn't pay attention for a while, and directly performed a "split" in front of Wang Nan, she fell, but the burger was "safe and sound".
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Wang Nan ate that hamburger, and her heart was more motivated, thanks to the usual hard training, she shined in that game, and since then, Wang Nan has become the "darling" of the whole team.
Wang Nan
For an athlete, who doesn't want to stand in the position of champion? Wang Nan is like this, and Zhang Yining is also like this, so what will happen if they meet in the later competitions?
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
When the time came to the women's singles final in 1999, there was such a scene, Zhang Yining and Wang Nan met.
In Zhang Yining's heart, although she and Sister Nan are not high in victory, she still wants to do her best to fight and see the gap between her and the top masters, with this mentality, a wonderful event began.
Zhang Yining
What Zhang Yining didn't expect was that she defeated Zhang Nan in the first two games, and if she won one more game, then she would be the final winner.
However, such an eagerness to win hurt her, Wang Nan did not panic because of the two defeats, and finally Wang Nan defeated his roommate Zhang Yining with a score of 3:2.
Wang Nan
Looking at the victorious Wang Nan, Zhang Yining was sincerely happy for her, but she lost not only a game, but also a ticket to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and the sadness in her heart can be imagined.
Zhang Yining
That defeat made Zhang Yining start to train harder, Wang Nan saw her work so hard, and he was happy for her, but a game in 2001 made Zhang Yining's mentality unstable.
Zhang Yining
That year coincided with the National Games, and in the women's singles, they met again, and things developed almost exactly like two years ago, with Zhang Yining leading at first and finally reversing 3:2.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Especially when the two of them played to the back, Zhang Yining's state became worse and worse, and he lost his rules in playing, because he was too negative, and he was severely punished.
At that moment, their sisterhood ushered in the biggest crisis.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Make peace with
Not only did Wang Nan notice Zhang Yining's abnormality, but the coach in the audience also found a problem, and after the game, he immediately talked to Zhang Yining, but he didn't expect the other party to not only cooperate, but also to start a temper.
Zhang Yining
In addition to breaking up with the coach, Zhang Yining and Wang Nan are also drifting apart, and Zhang Yining's favorite dormitory is gone.
At first, Wang Nan didn't pay attention to it, thinking that Zhang Yining played too late in other dormitories and didn't come back, but as time went by, Zhang Yining never appeared in the dormitory again, as if she had returned to the days when she was alone.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Until one day, after she met Zhang Yining by chance, she smiled and hugged each other, but Zhang Yining couldn't cry.
During that time, Zhang Yining stayed in the stadium all day and did not come back, and the pain caused by failure could only be vented in training.
Wang Nan
After this meeting, Zhang Yining poured out the depression in her heart, felt the depression of her good sister, and Wang Nan, who was holding her, also shed tears.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
After Wang Nan's comfort, Zhang Yining slowly calmed down, and this time she "hugged her head and cried", which completely dissipated the knot between them.
Not long after the two got back together, Wang Nan's career suffered a cliff-like decline.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
In 2002, as the main force to win the championship, Wang Nan was "unfavorable", she has always been known as the "king", but she also suffered the bitterness of failure, her mood was not good, and the "retirement" voice of the fans made her worse.
Wang Nan cried bitterly
At that time, her good sister Zhang Yining was always by her side, using practical actions to help her get out of the haze.
In 2004, Zhang Yining finally broke out completely, she reached the championship position in singles, and cooperated seamlessly with Wang Nan in doubles to win the championship.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
In 2008, the two of them showed the true meaning of table tennis to the world at their doorstep, even if it was Wang Nan's curtain call, Zhang Yining did not give in.
In the end, Zhang Yining held the championship trophy high, and Wang Nan on the side smiled happily, happy for this best sister.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
However, they have such a good relationship, how can they not see each other for 8 years?
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
We haven't seen each other for eight years
In 2008, Wang Nan left the arena where he had struggled, and in 2011, Zhang Yining also left.
After retiring, their lives became richer, and Wang Nan soon entered the palace of marriage, and also gave birth to a son and a daughter for her husband Guo Bin.
Wang Nan's family
Similarly, Zhang Yining has also found a life partner, and she also has children and daughters, but she has always lived in Hong Kong.
If they were single, or if they didn't have children, they would have more time to get together, but at that time, they were "chickens and dogs" every day, so how could they think about anything else?
Zhang Yining and the child
However, the "ping pong battle" between them did not disappear because of retirement, and they agreed to focus on cultivating the next generation to see which one is stronger and which is weaker.
Wang Nan instructed the children to practice Xi table tennis
In 2021, Zhang Yining, who has always been low-key, also opened her own social platform to share some daily life with fans, although she was 39 years old that year, her sharp eyes did not change at all, if she picked up the racket, she would become the "big devil" again in the next second.
Zhang Yining
The same is true for the 42-year-old Wang Nan that year, especially with the development of the Internet, they also connected in front of fans, recalled the original bits and pieces together, and said that they were happy, and the live broadcast room was full of laughter.
Zhang Yining and Wang Nan connected
Wang Nan joked that Zhang Yining had a lot of "bad ideas", and the other party emphasized that she was a "good girl".
In addition, Zhang Yining also personally "refuted the rumors" in that connection, saying that she didn't make Ai-chan cry at all, and the silver medal children at home can also move, etc.
Zhang Yining
From 1996 to 2023, the two generations of "Great Demon Kings" have known each other for 27 years, and the friendship between them has become more and more precious, especially the time when they accompanied each other out of the trough, which has become the best memory in their hearts.
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Epilogue:
For ordinary people, how precious is it to have a friendship of 27 years, let alone an athlete?
When Zhang Yining's mentality was unstable, Wang Nan accompanied her and comforted her, they worked hand in hand, and finally ushered in Zhang Yining's "table tennis era".
When Wang Nan's career declined, Zhang Yining did not abandon his company, and this friendship, after the baptism of failure, was even more precious.
Later, the two retired and did not see each other for eight years because of their children, but when they were connected, there was no sense of alienation, which shows the deep friendship between the two.
Finally, I wish them a happy life, and then cultivate a new "table tennis demon king".
Wang Nan and Zhang Yining
Information sources:
Wang Nan's 5-year-old daughter inherits her mother's mantle?" The answer of the "Demon King" can be called a model, Southeast Satellite TV
Lu Yu has an appointment with Wang Nan when the ball lands
The Second Classroom (Primary),2007,(09):4-6.
Li Xiang.Zhang Yining:Supporting Half the Sky in Table Tennis[J].Communist Party Member,2006,(03):43.)