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Wang Nan (table tennis)

Discoverer · ages 10+Adapted from Wikipedia
Wang Nan celebrating in Moscow after China was awarded the Olympics in 2001.

Wang Nan (Chinese: 王楠; pinyin: Wáng Nán; born October 23, 1978, in Fushun, Liaoning) is a female Chinese table tennis player from Liaoning. She began playing table tennis when she was just seven years old. Wang is left-handed and is known for her quick movements and clever placement of the ball during games.

She reached the top of the world rankings, holding the number one spot from January 1999 to November 2002 according to the ITTF. After another famous player, Deng Yaping, stopped playing, Wang became the leader of China’s women’s table tennis team.

Wang Nan is one of the most successful female table tennis players ever. She has won gold medals in the Table Tennis World Cup, the Table Tennis World Championships, and the Olympic Games, joining other great players like Li Xiaoxia, Ding Ning, and Zhang Yining. Her skills and achievements have made her a role model in the sport.

Personal life

Wang Nan is married to Guo Bin.

Career performance

Wang Nan won many important table tennis competitions. In 1994, she won the women's singles title at the Swedish Open. She also won medals at the Women's World Table Tennis Cup and the Olympic Games.

She won gold medals at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In 1999, she became the world’s number one player.

Later, she won medals at the 2003 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris and at the 2004 Summer Olympics. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won a team gold medal for China.

Performance timelines

(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#P#DNQAZ#POGSBNMSNTIPNH
Tournament199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008SRW–LWin%
Summer Olympics
SinglesNHANot HeldGNot HeldQFNot HeldS1 / 311–285%
DoublesNHANot HeldGNot HeldGNot Held2 / 28–0100%
TeamNot HeldG1 / 15–0100%
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–00–09–00–00–00–06–10–00–00–09–14 / 624–292%
World Championships
SinglesNHQFNHFNHWNHWNHWNH3RNHQFNH3 / 737–490%
DoublesNHANHFNHWNHWNHWNHWNHWNH5 / 634–197%
Mixed doublesNH1RNHSFNHSFNH3RNHWNHQFNHFNH1 / 727–682%
TeamNHANHWNHWWNHWNHWNHW6 / 645–0100%
Win–loss0–04–20–022–30–018–18–021–10–019–07–012–28–016–28–015 / 26143–1193%
World Cup
SinglesNHAWWNHFRRAWFAWA4 / 731–390%
TeamANHWNH1 / 15–0100%
Win–loss0–00–00–06–05–10–05–10–30–05–14–20–00–011–00–05 / 836–393%
ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals
SinglesNHQFFWQFFWASFSFAQFQFA2 / 1022–873%
DoublesNHQFWWWSFAAFWAWAA5 / 818–3100%
Win–loss0–00–01–26–17–04–14–24–00–04–25–10–04–11–10–07 / 1840–1178%
Tournament of Champions
SinglesNHFWA1 / 25–183%
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–02–13–00–01 / 25–183%
Career Statistics
199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008Career Total
Pro Tour Singles Titles11021233201011018
Pro Tour Doubles Titles00112100022043016
Pro Tour Team Titles1000000000000023
Year-end rankingNR85331111237324

World Title Events Finals (24–6)

Team (8–0)

Singles (8–4)

Doubles (7–1)

Mixed Doubles (1–1)

Legend
Olympics (4–1)
World Championships (15–3)
World Cup (5–2)
ResultW–LYearTournamentLocationPartnersOpponentsScore
Win1–01997World Championships (1)Manchester, United KingdomChina 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
Win2–02000World Championships (2)Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaChina 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
Win3–02001World Championships (3)Osaka, JapanChina 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
Win4–02004World Championships (4)Doha, QatarChina 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
Win5–02006World Championships (5)Bremen, GermanyChina 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
Win6–02007World Cup (1)Magdeburg, GermanyChina 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
Win7–02008World Championships (6)Guangzhou, ChinaChina 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
Win8–02008Summer Olympic Games (1)Beijing, ChinaChina Zhang Yining
China Guo Yue		Singapore Feng Tianwei
Singapore Li Jiawei
Singapore Wang Yuegu		3–0
ResultW–LYearTournamentLocationOpponentScore
Loss0–11997World Championships (1)Manchester, United KingdomChina Deng Yaping21–12, 8–21, 11–21, 10–21
Win1–11997World Cup (1)Shanghai, ChinaChina Li Ju21–15, 17–21, 21–23, 21–16, 21–17
Win2–11998World Cup (2)Taipei, TaiwanChina Li Ju21–12, 21–15, 21–16
Win3–11999World Championships (1)Eindhoven, NetherlandsChina Zhang Yining15–21, 14–21, 21–5, 21–12, 21–11
Win4–12000Summer Olympic Games (1)Sydney, AustraliaChina Li Ju21–12, 12–21, 19–21, 21–17, 21–18
Loss4–22000World Cup (1)Phnom Penh, CambodiaChina Li Ju10–21, 22–20, 17–21, 16–21
Win5–22001World Championships (2)Osaka, JapanChina Lin Ling14–21, 21–12, 21–12, 21–19
Win6–22003World Championships (3)Paris, FranceChina Zhang Yining11–7, 11–8, 11–4, 5–11, 6–11, 8–11, 11–5
Win7–22003World Cup (3)Hong KongChina Niu Jianfeng11–9, 11–9, 6–11, 11–4, 11–6
Loss7–32004World Cup (2)Hangzhou, ChinaChina Zhang Yining13–15, 11–7, 5–11, 6–11, 11–8, 8–11
Win8–32007World Cup (4)Chengdu, ChinaChina Zhang Yining11–5, 8–11, 11–8, 11–6, 11–8
Loss8–42008Summer Olympic Games (1)Beijing, ChinaChina Zhang Yining11–8, 11–13, 8–11, 8–11, 3–11
ResultW–LYearTournamentLocationPartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–11997World Championships (1)Manchester, United KingdomChina Li JuChina Deng Yapin
China Yang Ying		17–21, 20–22, 21–17, 21–19, 11–21
Win1–11999World Championships (1)Eindhoven, NetherlandsChina Li JuChina Sun Jin
China Yang Ying		22–20, 21–18, 21–19
Win2–12000Summer Olympic Games (1)Sydney, AustraliaChina Li JuChina Sun Jin
China Yang Ying		21–18, 21–11, 21–11
Win3–12001World Championships (2)Osaka, JapanChina Li JuChina Sun Jin
China Yang Ying		21–16, 21–14, 21–14
Win4–12003World Championships (3)Paris, FranceChina Zhang YiningChina Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng		11–7, 11–7, 7–11, 11–2, 14–12
Win5–12004Summer Olympic Games (2)Athens, GreeceChina Zhang YiningSouth Korea Lee Eun-Sil
South Korea Seok Eun-Mi		11–9, 11–7, 11–6, 11–6
Win6–12005World Championships (4)Shanghai, ChinaChina Zhang YiningChina Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng		11–4, 11–5, 10–12, 11–9, 11–5
Win7–12007World Championships (5)Zagreb, CroatiaChina Zhang YiningChina Guo Yue
China Li Xiaoxia		11–5, 11–6, 13–11, 11–9
ResultW–LYearTournamentLocationPartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–02003World Championships (1)Paris, FranceChina Ma LinChina Bai Yang
China Liu Guozheng		9–11, 10–12, 11–0, 11–7, 11–9, 5–11, 11–8
Loss1–12007World Championships (1)Zagreb, CroatiaChina Ma LinChina 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)

Doubles: 6 (5–1)

Tournament of Champions (1–1)

ResultW–LYearLocationOpponentScore
Loss0–11997Hong KongChina Li Ju25–23, 5–21, 16–21, 17–21
Win1–11998Paris, FranceChina Lin Ling21–23, 21–18, 19–21, 22–20, 21–9
Loss1–22000Kobe, JapanChina Zhang Yining10–21, 21–19, 24–26, 21–9, 11–21
Win2–22001Hainan, ChinaChina Niu Jianfeng11–6, 11–9, 9–11, 9–11, 11–3, 11–1
ResultW–LYearLocationPartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–01997Hong KongChina Li JuSouth Korea Kim Moo-kyo
South Korea Park Hae-jung		21–17, 21–13, 9–21, 21–13
Win2–01998Paris, FranceChina Li JuChina Cheng Hongxia
China Wang Hui		23–21, 22–20, 21–7
Win3–01999Sydney, AustraliaChina Li JuChina Sun Jin
China Yang Ying		21–9, 21–12, 19–21, 21–18
Loss3–12003Guangzhou, ChinaChina Zhang YiningChina Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng		11–9, 3–11, 4–11, 11–3, 7–11, 11–6, 8–11
Win4–12004Beijing, ChinaChina Zhang YiningChina Guo Yue
China Niu Jianfeng		11–6, 11–7, 11–3, 8–11, 14–12
Win5–12006Hong KongChina Zhang YiningUnited States Gao Jun
Spain Shen Yanfei		11–6, 8–11, 11–9, 11–8, 12–10
ResultW–LYearLocationOpponentScore
Loss0–12006Changsha, ChinaChina Zhang Yining9–11, 7–11, 8–11, 4–11
Win1–12007Changsha, ChinaChina Li Xiaoxia11–5, 9–11, 12–10, 11–6, 6–11, 6–11, 11–9

Pro Tour Titles (37)

Team (3)

Singles (18)

Doubles (16)

No.YearTournament Location
1.1994Norrköping, Sweden
2.2008Changchun, China
3.2008Yokohama, Japan
No.YearTournament Location
1.1994Norrköping, Sweden
2.1995Shantou, China
3.1997Fort Lauderdale, United States
4.1997Beirut, Lebanon
5.1998Jinan, China
6.1999Kobe, Japan
7.1999Bremen, Germany
8.2000Kobe, Japan
9.2000Fort Lauderdale, United States
10.2000Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
11.2001Hainan, China
12.2001Seoul, South Korea
13.2001Yokohama, Japan
14.2002Doha, Qatar
15.2002Qingdao, China
16.2004Athens, Greece
17.2006Kunshan, China
18.2007Chiba, Japan
No.YearTournament Location
1.1996Belgrade, Yugoslavia
2.1997Beirut, Lebanon
3.1998Doha, Qatar
4.1998Wakayama, Japan
5.1999Linz, Austria
6.2003Croatia, Croatia
7.2003Bremen, Germany
8.2004Pyeongchang, South Korea
9.2004Changchun, China
10.2006Doha, Qatar
11.2006Kuwait City, Kuwait
12.2006Kunshan, China
13.2006Singapore
14.2007Doha, Qatar
15.2007Toulouse, France
16.2007Kuwait City, Kuwait

Keep exploring

China
Hong Kong
Chinese language
Pinyin
Table tennis
Ding Ning

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