Widely acclaimed as the greatest female in table tennis history, Deng Yaping was the top-ranked woman in the world for eight consecutive years.
Deng Yaping retired in 1997 after winning that year’s singles and doubles world titles. In 8 years, she won 14 world championships and 4 Olympic gold medals. She was crowned with the Laureus Award in 2002 for her excellent sporting performance.
After retirement, she got the bachelor’s degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing and then received the master’s degree from the University of Nottingham in Britain.
She later became a member of the International Olympic Committee to keep her relationship with the Olympics going. In 2003, she returned to China to join the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games. She is also currently pursuing a doctorate from the University of Cambridge.
CRI reporter spoke to former world and Olympic table tennis champion, Deng Yaping, at the annual session of China’s top advisory body.
The four-time Olympic champion is now working with the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee after years of studying abroad.
She discussed her proposals and suggestions on the development of sports in China as an athlete-turned-adviser.