# Zhang Ailing (badminton)

Zhang Ailing (Chinese: 张爱玲; pinyin: Zhāng Àilíng; born 1957) is a retired badminton player from China.

## Career

In 1978 Zhang won women's singles at the rival "world championship" which was run by the short-lived World Badminton Federation prior to China's entry into the International Badminton Federation (now Badminton World Federation). She was the dominant international singles player when China joined the IBF in 1981, winning the multi-sport World Games in 1981, the Asian Games in 1982, and the prestigious All-England Championships in both 1982 and 1983, as well as a host of other significant titles. In the 1983 IBF World Championships, however, she was beaten in the semifinal by Chinese teammate Han Aiping and after this result was unable to regain her previous dominance. Zhang played third singles on China's 1984 Uber Cup (women's international) team which won the team world championship.
Whether because Zhang, by then in her late twenties, could no longer beat her teammates Han and Li Lingwei, or because of her marriage to fellow Chinese player Chen Changjie, she disappeared from international badminton after the 1983-1984 season.

## Achievements
### World Championships

Women's singles :
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | Sirisriro Patama | 11–4, 11–4 | Gold |
| 1983 | Brøndbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark | Han Aiping | 7–11, 7–11 | Bronze |
Women's doubles :
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | Li Fang | Zheng Huiming Qiu Yufang | 5–15, 15–9, 15–10 | Gold |
| 1979 | Hangzhou, China | Liu Xia | Sirisriro Patama Suleeporn Jittariyakul | 10–15, 11–15 | Silver |

### World Cup

Women's singles :
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1983 | Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Han Aiping | 11–6, 5–11, 4–11 | Silver |

### World Games

Women's singles :
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States | Hwang Sun-ai | 7–11, 11–9, 12–9 | Gold |
Women's doubles :
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States | Liu Xia | Jane Webster Nora Perry | 11–15, 15–4, 15–8 | Gold |

### Asian Games

Women's singles :
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1982 | Indraprastha Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India | Li Lingwei | 11–6, 11–8 | Gold |
Mixed doubles :
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | Tang Xianhu | Hariamanto Kartono Theresia Widiastuti | 15–8, 17–16 | Gold |

### Asian Championships

Women's doubles :
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1976 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, India | Liu Xia | Regina Masli Theresia Widiastuti | 9–15, 8–15 | Bronze |

### International tournaments

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.
Women's singles :
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | Scandinavian Cup | Lene Køppen | 6–11, 11–12 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | English Masters | Lene Køppen | 11–6, 11–12, 11–6 | Winner |
| 1982 | All England Open | Li Lingwei | 11–4, 11–6 | Winner |
| 1983 | All England Open | Wu Jianqiu | 11–5, 10–12, 12–9 | Winner |
Women's doubles :
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1981 | Scandinavian Cup | Liu Xia | Jane Webster Nora Perry | 12–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | English Masters | Liu Xia | Gillian Gilks Yoshiko Yonekura | 15–10, 3–15, 15–6 | Winner |
    IBF Grand Prix tournament

### Invitational tournament

Women's singles :
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1978 | Asian Invitational Championships | Liu Xia | 2–11, 7–11 | Silver |