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Wang Nan (table tennis) facts for kids

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Wang Nan
Wangnan 2001.jpg
Wang Nan in 2001 in Moscow after China was awarded the Olympics
Personal information
Native name 王楠
Nickname(s) Nan Nan (楠楠), Nan Jie (楠姐)
Nationality China
Residence Beijing, China
Born (1978-10-23) 23 October 1978 (age 45)
Fushun, Liaoning, China
Playing style Shakehand grip
Highest ranking 1 (January 1999)
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Medal record
Women's table tennis
Representing  China
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 4 1 0
World Championships 15 3 2
World Cup 5 2 0
Olympic Games
Gold 2000 Sydney Singles
Gold 2000 Sydney Doubles
Gold 2004 Athens Doubles
Gold 2008 Beijing Team
Silver 2008 Beijing Singles
World Championships
Gold 1997 Manchester Team
Gold 1999 Eindhoven Singles
Gold 1999 Eindhoven Doubles
Gold 2000 Kuala Lumpur Team
Gold 2001 Osaka Singles
Gold 2001 Osaka Doubles
Gold 2001 Osaka Team
Gold 2003 Paris Singles
Gold 2003 Paris Doubles
Gold 2003 Paris Mixed doubles
Gold 2004 Doha Team
Gold 2005 Shanghai Doubles
Gold 2006 Bremen Team
Gold 2007 Zagreb Doubles
Gold 2008 Guangzhou Team
Silver 1997 Manchester Singles
Silver 1997 Manchester Doubles
Silver 2007 Zagreb Mixed doubles
Bronze 1997 Manchester Mixed doubles
Bronze 1999 Eindhoven Mixed doubles
World Cup
Gold 1997 Shanghai Singles
Gold 1998 Taipei Singles
Gold 2003 Hong Kong Singles
Gold 2007 Chengdu Singles
Gold 2007 Magdeburg Team
Silver 2000 Phnom Penh Singles
Silver 2004 Hangzhou Singles
Asian Games
Gold 1998 Bangkok Singles
Gold 1998 Bangkok Doubles
Gold 1998 Bangkok Mixed doubles
Gold 1998 Bangkok Team
Gold 2006 Doha Mixed doubles
Gold 2006 Doha Team
Silver 2002 Busan Singles
Silver 2002 Busan Team
Bronze 2002 Busan Doubles
Bronze 2002 Busan Mixed doubles
Bronze 2006 Doha Singles
Bronze 2006 Doha Doubles

Wang Nan (Chinese: 王楠; pinyin: Wáng Nán; born October 23, 1978, in Fushun, Liaoning) is a female Chinese table tennis player from Liaoning. Wang was ranked world #1 on the ITTF ranking system from January 1999 to November 2002. She is left-handed, and began playing table tennis when she was seven years old. Her particular skills are changing the placement of the ball during rallies and her loop drive, as well as her notable speed. Wang has been the leader of the women's table-tennis team of China after Deng Yaping's retirement. In terms of achievements, she is one of the most successful female table tennis players (alongside Li Xiaoxia, Deng Yaping, Ding Ning, Zhang Yining) having won the gold medal in each of the Table Tennis World Cup, the Table Tennis World Championships, and the Olympic Games.

Personal life

Wang Nan is married to Guo Bin.

Career performance

In 1994 Wang Nan won the women's singles titles at the Swedish Open. The nex, Women's World Table Tennis Cup and Olympic Games. From 1997 to 1998 she won the Women's World Table Tennis Cup twice, as well as the American Open and China Open. At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Wang won the four gold medals on offer (singles, doubles, mixed doubles and women teams). At the end of 1998, she won the ITTF tour finals.

In 1999 she won the gold medal at the World Table Tennis Championships and the ITTF tour finals in both singles and doubles. She became world #1 in the same year. In the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney she won two gold medals in singles and doubles. Her excellent success record has resulted in her becoming a Grand-Slam champion.

However, in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, she lost two finals in the singles and women's teams competitions, winning no gold medals. Many people criticized her attitude and observed that she was inactive and lacking confidence. A lot of rumors claimed that she was going to retire because her skills were depleted and she could not compete on the improving world stage.

Wang Nan attended 2003 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris. This is her fourth time representing China. She won three gold medals in singles, doubles and mixed doubles and of particular interest, she won both singles and doubles championship for the third time in a row, records which are hard to break in the future. Many people didn't expect her success before the competition began; however, the three gold medals proved that she was still one of the top players in the world.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics Wang Nan failed to retain her singles crown but went on to win the women's doubles with Zhang Yining.

Four years later at the 2008 Summer Olympics she made it to the Women's Final yet again, this time losing out to Zhang Yining, 8–11, 13–11, 11–8, 11–8, 11–3. She did, however, win the team gold for the host country.

Performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# A P Z# PO G F-S SF-B NMS NH
(W) Won; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (F-S) silver or (SF-B) bronze Olympic medal; a (NMS) downgraded Masters Series/1000 tournament; (NH) not held. SR=strike rate (events won/competed)
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.
Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 SR W–L Win%
Summer Olympics
Singles NH A Not Held G Not Held QF Not Held S 1 / 3 11–2 85%
Doubles NH A Not Held G Not Held G Not Held 2 / 2 8–0 100%
Team Not Held G 1 / 1 5–0 100%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 9–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 6–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 9–1 4 / 6 24–2 92%
World Championships
Singles NH QF NH F NH W NH W NH W NH 3R NH QF NH 3 / 7 37–4 90%
Doubles NH A NH F NH W NH W NH W NH W NH W NH 5 / 6 34–1 97%
Mixed doubles NH 1R NH SF NH SF NH 3R NH W NH QF NH F NH 1 / 7 27–6 82%
Team NH A NH W NH W W NH W NH W NH W 6 / 6 45–0 100%
Win–loss 0–0 4–2 0–0 22–3 0–0 18–1 8–0 21–1 0–0 19–0 7–0 12–2 8–0 16–2 8–0 15 / 26 143–11 93%
World Cup
Singles NH A W W NH F RR A W F A W A 4 / 7 31–3 90%
Team A NH W NH 1 / 1 5–0 100%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 6–0 5–1 0–0 5–1 0–3 0–0 5–1 4–2 0–0 0–0 11–0 0–0 5 / 8 36–3 93%
ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals
Singles NH QF F W QF F W A SF SF A QF QF A 2 / 10 22–8 73%
Doubles NH QF W W W SF A A F W A W A A 5 / 8 18–3 100%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 1–2 6–1 7–0 4–1 4–2 4–0 0–0 4–2 5–1 0–0 4–1 1–1 0–0 7 / 18 40–11 78%
Tournament of Champions
Singles NH F W A 1 / 2 5–1 83%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 0–0 1 / 2 5–1 83%
Career Statistics
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Career Total
Pro Tour Singles Titles 1 1 0 2 1 2 3 3 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 18
Pro Tour Doubles Titles 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 4 3 0 16
Pro Tour Team Titles 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Year-end ranking NR 8 5 3 3 1 1 1 1 2 3 7 3 2 4

World Title Events Finals (24–6)

Legend
Olympics (4–1)
World Championships (15–3)
World Cup (5–2)

Team (8–0)

Result W–L Year Tournament Location Partners Opponents Score
Win 1–0 1997 World Championships (1) Manchester, United Kingdom China Deng Yaping
China Li Ju
China Wang Hui
China Yang Ying
North Korea Kim Hyon-hui
North Korea Tu Jong-sil
North Korea Wi Bok-Sun
3–0
Win 2–0 2000 World Championships (2) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Li Ju
China Sun Jin
China Wang Hui
China Zhang Yining
Chinese Taipei Chen Jing
Chinese Taipei Lu Yun-feng
Chinese Taipei Pan Li-chun
Chinese Taipei Tsui Hsiu-li
Chinese Taipei Xu Jing
3–1
Win 3–0 2001 World Championships (3) Osaka, Japan China Li Ju
China Sun Jin
China Yang Ying
China Zhang Yining
North Korea Kim Hyang-Mi
North Korea Kim Hyon-hui
North Korea Kim Mi-Yong
North Korea Kim Yun-Mi
North Korea Tu Jong-sil
3–0
Win 4–0 2004 World Championships (4) Doha, Qatar China Zhang Yining
China Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng
China Li Ju
Hong Kong Lau Sui-fei
Hong Kong Song Ah Sim
Hong Kong Zhang Rui
Hong Kong Tie Ya Na
Hong Kong Yu Kwok See
3–0
Win 5–0 2006 World Championships (5) Bremen, Germany China Zhang Yining
China Guo Yue
China Guo Yan
China Li Xiaoxia
Hong Kong Lau Sui-fei
Hong Kong Lin Ling
Hong Kong Zhang Rui
Hong Kong Tie Ya Na
Hong Kong Yu Kwok See
3–1
Win 6–0 2007 World Cup (1) Magdeburg, Germany China Guo Yue
China Li Xiaoxia
China Zhang Yining
South Korea Kim Kyung-ah
South Korea Kwak Bang-bang
South Korea Lee Eun-hee
South Korea Park Mi-Young
3–0
Win 7–0 2008 World Championships (6) Guangzhou, China China Guo Yan
China Guo Yue
China Li Xiaoxia
China Zhang Yining
Singapore Feng Tianwei
Singapore Li Jiawei
Singapore Wang Yuegu
Singapore Sun Beibei
Singapore Yu Mengyu
3–1
Win 8–0 2008 Summer Olympic Games (1) Beijing, China China Zhang Yining
China Guo Yue
Singapore Feng Tianwei
Singapore Li Jiawei
Singapore Wang Yuegu
3–0

Singles (8–4)

Result W–L Year Tournament Location Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 1997 World Championships (1) Manchester, United Kingdom China Deng Yaping 21–12, 8–21, 11–21, 10–21
Win 1–1 1997 World Cup (1) Shanghai, China China Li Ju 21–15, 17–21, 21–23, 21–16, 21–17
Win 2–1 1998 World Cup (2) Taipei, Taiwan China Li Ju 21–12, 21–15, 21–16
Win 3–1 1999 World Championships (1) Eindhoven, Netherlands China Zhang Yining 15–21, 14–21, 21–5, 21–12, 21–11
Win 4–1 2000 Summer Olympic Games (1) Sydney, Australia China Li Ju 21–12, 12–21, 19–21, 21–17, 21–18
Loss 4–2 2000 World Cup (1) Phnom Penh, Cambodia China Li Ju 10–21, 22–20, 17–21, 16–21
Win 5–2 2001 World Championships (2) Osaka, Japan China Lin Ling 14–21, 21–12, 21–12, 21–19
Win 6–2 2003 World Championships (3) Paris, France China Zhang Yining 11–7, 11–8, 11–4, 5–11, 6–11, 8–11, 11–5
Win 7–2 2003 World Cup (3) Hong Kong China Niu Jianfeng 11–9, 11–9, 6–11, 11–4, 11–6
Loss 7–3 2004 World Cup (2) Hangzhou, China China Zhang Yining 13–15, 11–7, 5–11, 6–11, 11–8, 8–11
Win 8–3 2007 World Cup (4) Chengdu, China China Zhang Yining 11–5, 8–11, 11–8, 11–6, 11–8
Loss 8–4 2008 Summer Olympic Games (1) Beijing, China China Zhang Yining 11–8, 11–13, 8–11, 8–11, 3–11

Doubles (7–1)

Result W–L Year Tournament Location Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 1997 World Championships (1) Manchester, United Kingdom China Li Ju China Deng Yapin
China Yang Ying
17–21, 20–22, 21–17, 21–19, 11–21
Win 1–1 1999 World Championships (1) Eindhoven, Netherlands China Li Ju China Sun Jin
China Yang Ying
22–20, 21–18, 21–19
Win 2–1 2000 Summer Olympic Games (1) Sydney, Australia China Li Ju China Sun Jin
China Yang Ying
21–18, 21–11, 21–11
Win 3–1 2001 World Championships (2) Osaka, Japan China Li Ju China Sun Jin
China Yang Ying
21–16, 21–14, 21–14
Win 4–1 2003 World Championships (3) Paris, France China Zhang Yining China Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng
11–7, 11–7, 7–11, 11–2, 14–12
Win 5–1 2004 Summer Olympic Games (2) Athens, Greece China Zhang Yining South Korea Lee Eun-Sil
South Korea Seok Eun-Mi
11–9, 11–7, 11–6, 11–6
Win 6–1 2005 World Championships (4) Shanghai, China China Zhang Yining China Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng
11–4, 11–5, 10–12, 11–9, 11–5
Win 7–1 2007 World Championships (5) Zagreb, Croatia China Zhang Yining China Guo Yue
China Li Xiaoxia
11–5, 11–6, 13–11, 11–9

Mixed Doubles (1–1)

Result W–L Year Tournament Location Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 2003 World Championships (1) Paris, France China Ma Lin China Bai Yang
China Liu Guozheng
9–11, 10–12, 11–0, 11–7, 11–9, 5–11, 11–8
Loss 1–1 2007 World Championships (1) Zagreb, Croatia China Ma Lin China Guo Yue
China Wang Liqin
11–13, 7–11, 11–8, 9–11, 11–9, 10–12

Other significant finals

ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals (7–3)

Singles: 4 (2–2)

Result W–L Year Location Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 1997 Hong Kong China Li Ju 25–23, 5–21, 16–21, 17–21
Win 1–1 1998 Paris, France China Lin Ling 21–23, 21–18, 19–21, 22–20, 21–9
Loss 1–2 2000 Kobe, Japan China Zhang Yining 10–21, 21–19, 24–26, 21–9, 11–21
Win 2–2 2001 Hainan, China China Niu Jianfeng 11–6, 11–9, 9–11, 9–11, 11–3, 11–1

Doubles: 6 (5–1)

Result W–L Year Location Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 1997 Hong Kong China Li Ju South Korea Kim Moo-kyo
South Korea Park Hae-jung
21–17, 21–13, 9–21, 21–13
Win 2–0 1998 Paris, France China Li Ju China Cheng Hongxia
China Wang Hui
23–21, 22–20, 21–7
Win 3–0 1999 Sydney, Australia China Li Ju China Sun Jin
China Yang Ying
21–9, 21–12, 19–21, 21–18
Loss 3–1 2003 Guangzhou, China China Zhang Yining China Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng
11–9, 3–11, 4–11, 11–3, 7–11, 11–6, 8–11
Win 4–1 2004 Beijing, China China Zhang Yining China Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng
11–6, 11–7, 11–3, 8–11, 14–12
Win 5–1 2006 Hong Kong China Zhang Yining United States Gao Jun
Spain Shen Yanfei
11–6, 8–11, 11–9, 11–8, 12–10

Tournament of Champions (1–1)

Result W–L Year Location Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 2006 Changsha, China China Zhang Yining 9–11, 7–11, 8–11, 4–11
Win 1–1 2007 Changsha, China China Li Xiaoxia 11–5, 9–11, 12–10, 11–6, 6–11, 6–11, 11–9

Pro Tour Titles (37)

Team (3)

No. Year Tournament Location
1. 1994 Norrköping, Sweden
2. 2008 Changchun, China
3. 2008 Yokohama, Japan

Singles (18)

No. Year Tournament Location
1. 1994 Norrköping, Sweden
2. 1995 Shantou, China
3. 1997 Fort Lauderdale, United States
4. 1997 Beirut, Lebanon
5. 1998 Jinan, China
6. 1999 Kobe, Japan
7. 1999 Bremen, Germany
8. 2000 Kobe, Japan
9. 2000 Fort Lauderdale, United States
10. 2000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
11. 2001 Hainan, China
12. 2001 Seoul, South Korea
13. 2001 Yokohama, Japan
14. 2002 Doha, Qatar
15. 2002 Qingdao, China
16. 2004 Athens, Greece
17. 2006 Kunshan, China
18. 2007 Chiba, Japan

Doubles (16)

No. Year Tournament Location
1. 1996 Belgrade, Yugoslavia
2. 1997 Beirut, Lebanon
3. 1998 Doha, Qatar
4. 1998 Wakayama, Japan
5. 1999 Linz, Austria
6. 2003 Croatia, Croatia
7. 2003 Bremen, Germany
8. 2004 Pyeongchang, South Korea
9. 2004 Changchun, China
10. 2006 Doha, Qatar
11. 2006 Kuwait City, Kuwait
12. 2006 Kunshan, China
13. 2006 Singapore
14. 2007 Doha, Qatar
15. 2007 Toulouse, France
16. 2007 Kuwait City, Kuwait

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wang Nan para niños

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