Zhang Ailing

Zhang Ailing (; born 1957) is a retired badminton player from China.

Career In 1978 Zhang won women's singles at the rival "world championship" which was run by the short-lived World Badminton Federation prior to China's entry into the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation). She was the dominant international singles player when China joined the IBF in 1981, winning the multi-sport World Games in 1981, the Asian Games in 1982, and the prestigious All-England Championships in both 1982 and 1983, as well as a host of other significant titles. In the 1983 IBF World Championships, however, she was beaten in the semifinal by Chinese teammate Han Aiping and after this result was unable to regain her previous dominance. Zhang played third singles on China's 1984 Uber Cup (women's international) team which won the team world championship.

As a ramification of her marriage to fellow Chinese player Chen Changjie, she retired from international badminton after the 1983-1984 season due to the policy of "love-banned" in China national badminton squad at that time.

Achievements World Championships +Women's singlesYearVenueOpponentScoreResult 1978 Bangkok, Thailand Sirisriro Patama 11–4, 11–4 Gold Gold 1983 Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark Han Aiping 7–11, 7–11 Bronze Bronze

+Women's doublesYearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1978 Bangkok, Thailand Li Fang Zheng Huiming Qiu Yufang 5–15, 15–9, 15–10 Gold Gold 1979 Hangzhou, China Liu Xia Sirisriro Patama Suleeporn Jittariyakul 10–15, 11–15 Silver Silver

World Cup +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1983 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Han Aiping 11–6, 5–11, 4–11 Silver Silver

World Games +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1981 San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States Hwang Sun-ai 7–11, 11–9, 12–9 Gold Gold

+Women's doublesYearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1981 San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States Liu Xia Jane Webster Nora Perry 11–15, 15–4, 15–8 Gold Gold

Asian Games +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1982 Indraprastha Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India Li Lingwei 11–6, 11–8 Gold Gold

+Mixed doublesYearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1978 Bangkok, Thailand Tang Xianhu Hariamanto Kartono Theresia Widiastuti 15–8, 17–16 Gold Gold

Asian Championships +Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1976 Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, India Liu Xia Regina Masli Theresia Widiastuti 9–15, 8–15 Bronze Bronze

International tournaments The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.

+Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1981 Scandinavian Cup Lene Køppen 6–11, 11–12 Runner-up 1981 English Masters Lene Køppen 11–6, 11–12, 11–6 Winner 1982 All England Open Li Lingwei 11–4, 11–6 Winner 1983 All England Open Wu Jianqiu 11–5, 10–12, 12–9 Winner

+Women's doublesYearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1981 Scandinavian Cup Liu Xia Jane Webster Nora Perry 12–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1981 English Masters Liu Xia Gillian Gilks Yoshiko Yonekura 15–10, 3–15, 15–6 Winner IBF Grand Prix tournament

Invitational tournament +Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1978 Asian Invitational Championships Liu Xia 2–11, 7–11 Silver Silver