Zhang Yining hopes to retain Olympic gold

Zhang Yining in the 48th World Table Tennis Championships May 5, 2005 (Photo credit: Guang Niu/Getty Images)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, July 4) -- In world ranking updates issued Thursday by the International Table Tennis Federation, China's Zhang Yining remains the top seed player with teammates Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia also listed among the world's best. The table tennis trio will form China's formidable Olympic team at the Beijing Games.

From a dark horse in the 1999 World Championship to Athens double gold winner in women's singles and doubles, the 26-year-old Zhang has racked up an impressive collection of global titles. While loosing to 5th ranked Guo Yan in the 2006 World Cup, her position at No. 1 remains firm with a number of later wins.

With a shakehand grip style and perpetually serious expression in competition, Zhang has been nicknamed "Cool-face Killer" by her fans. With a slim figure and fragile first impression, the unassuming world champion surprises opponents with incredible speed and impeccable tempo.

One of Zhang's heroes is former "table tennis queen" Deng Yaping. Deng is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and 18-time world champion, by far the most accomplished player in the sport. In writing about her preparation for the upcoming Olympics, Zhang wrote on her website that unlike her world championship loss two years ago, she would take a more holistic approach to the game and avoid overly focusing on certain elements to the exclusion of others.

Ranked as the best table tennis player in the world, Zhang is anticipated to take gold in Beijing, further scripting her own legacy.