Ready for the new queen of table tennis?

Zhang Yining finally reached the top of the podium by defeating Kim Hyang-mi of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 4-0 to win the women's singles title at the Athens Olympic Games yesterday.

Living in the shadow of her teammate and double Olympic gold medal winner Wang Nan, Zhang has never won a singles world title before, despite her long standing as the best player in the world.

Wang's unexpected fall to Li Jia Wei of Singapore in the quarter-finals gave Zhang a shot at the top spot.

She took advantage of that chance, winning the gold medal won by her teammates in the last four Olympics.

Zhang, widely considered a ping-pong prodigy who established herself at a very early age, met Wang in almost all the major competition finals including the 2001 National Games and two world championships but all ended in silver medals for her.

"This is a dream-come-true moment for me," Zhang said after the victory. "It was hard and there were many hardships behind it.

"Only if you have experienced many frustrations, can you reach this achievement."

"All you need to do is work hard... no matter how frustrated you are."

Huge pressures were piling on the 23-year-old Beijinger as her teammates fell in turn, something rarely seen in past Olympic Games. Since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, China's women's paddlers have made the singles finals all-Chinese contests.

World No. 3 and 2003 ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) Pro finals winner Niu Jianfeng was the first victim, knocked out the tournament in the first round by Kim in straight sets.

A bigger shock followed when gold favorite Wang could not repeat her Sydney Games deed against Li who pushed Wang to the limit in the Sydney quarter-finals by holding four match points.

This time, Wang fell 4-1 to the Singaporean in the quarters.

However, Zhang held her nerve, losing only two sets en route to the title match.

She gave the 25-year-old Kim no chance, finishing the match in quick fashion with her amazing rallies and winning China a 20th gold medal at Athens Games, and 100th gold medal in all six Summer Olympics.

"It is impossible to feel no pressure," said a pleased Zhang, who is nicknamed the "Cool-face killer" for her unemotional expression during matches.

"It's normal. How to deal with it is what's important."

"I tried a positive approach and I am battling with myself.

"I think if I play with all my mind, emotions and skills, I can win the match."

Even her coach was surprised that Zhang, playing in her first Olympics, could control herself so well.

"She is calm there and she totally controlled the match," said Lu Yuansheng, coach of the Chinese women's table tennis team.

"Her faith in herself is so strong and she believed she could do it."

Like her predecessors, Zhang is expected to dominate the field in the years to come, using the winning key provided by her Olympic triumph.

"It's like a sublimation and if you pass it you can be better," she said. "Now I am aiming towards a higher goal."

"The goal is not winning more titles because I think that's too superficial. What I am talking is to be a better athlete and be a better person."

The victory hands Zhang the baton of spearheading the Chinese women's team from former leaders like Wang and table tennis legend Deng Yaping.

"It's even harder to be the leader of the team," she said. "It requires a lot and needs down-to-earth everyday improvement."

She has already set her sights on the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games which will be held in her hometown. "I love Beijing. It is my hometown and I hope I can become a winner there."

(China Daily August 23, 2004)