In 2005, due to sport-related injuries, Chen underwent surgery on her right knee. The following year, she won gold in her division at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. The year after that, she took first place at the World Championships in Beijing. Leading up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing, Chen won her division at the 2008 Asian Championships in Luoyang. By this time, Zhang Jinghui (a former teammate) was coaching her. Given her dominant performance, Chen entered the Beijing Olympic campaign as a clear favourite to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.