Site Products
Ding Ning from great to legend to immortality

Ding Ning from great to legend to immortality, moment of history awaits in Markham?

(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Ding Ning from great to legend to immortality
Victory in 2011 asserted the name of Ding Ning amongst the great names of the sport, earlier in the year she had been crowned World champion in Rotterdam, success in 2014 served as a sharp reminder that she merited such an acclamation. Two years earlier, she had lost to colleague Li Xiaoxia in the London 2012 Olympic Games final and then one year later in the penultimate round of the Women’s Singles event at the Liebherr 2013 World Championships in Paris.

A silver medal at an Olympic Games, bronze at a World Championships; most would bite your hand off for such triumphs, for Ding Ning it was agony. Also did we harbour thoughts in 2013 that possibly the best days of Ding Ning were over?

If we did we were mistaken and was the 2014 win in Linz the spark? History now tells us that Ding Ning won the Women’s Singles title at the Qoros 2015 World Championships and earlier this year at the Liebherr 2017 World Championships. Additional to winning the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, sandwiched in between, she secured the most prestigious prize of all, gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Now that success took Ding Ning from great to legend; if she can win in Markham we can put the two descriptions together and make the first superlative. She will be one of the greatest legends of all time; immortal.

She will hold the biggest titles the sport has to offer all at the same time; Olympic champion, World Team champion, World champion and Olympic champion.

Imposingly, she will line up alongside colleagues, Deng Yaping, Wang Nan and Zhang Yining who all achieved the feat.

In 1996 when Deng Yaping won the first ever edition of the Women’s World Cup, it meant she owned all four titles. Success in 2003 at the Women’s World Cup sealed the deal for Wang Nan, whilst in May 2005 when she was crowned World champion Zhang Yining joined the illustrious club. Later in 2005, she made absolutely certain by winning the Women’s World Cup in Guanzhou for the second consecutive year.

For full article, please click here

Latest News

Jessie Xu Named 2025 Table Tennis Canada Athlete of the Year

May 20, 2025
(by Bowmar Sports) Recognizing Leadership, Excellence, and Sportsmanship On and Off the Table Bowmar is proud to celebrate the… Read More

World Championships Update: Jarvis Powers Through to Round of 32

May 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) A few surprises in the early rounds of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals… Read More

Apply Finger Pressure With Your Thumb!

May 19, 2025
Backhand block (regular block and no spin block) – robot plays very spinny shots deep SET TO RING… Read More

Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights – Kef Noorani Tournament Highlights

May 19, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights, Kef Noorani https://youtu.be/68Or5s_S2yg Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment,… Read More

Learn from Students of the Game, Crafty Veterans, and Hedgehogs

May 19, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) You should always be learning in table tennis, or in any serious activity. I’m always… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Atlanta International Table Tennis Academy

May 18, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) With their location just North of Atlanta in Suwanee, Atlanta International Table Tennis Academy has… Read More

MLTT Team Feature: East Division Expansion Team the Atlanta Blazers

May 18, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) continues to grow, and the Atlanta Blazers are one of… Read More

Early Action Underway in Doha

May 18, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin had 4-0 wins as all of the top seeds advanced… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.