Career
Zhang has specialized in women's doubles and mixed doubles, earning numerous international titles in both events. At various times she has partnered either Zhang Dan, or Zhao Tingting, or Wei Yili to women's doubles victories at the French (2002, 2007), German (2004), Thailand (2004), Singapore (2005, 2007), Indonesia (2006), China (2008), and Hong Kong (2008) Opens. Prior to 2009 her biggest triumph came with Wei Yili at the prestigious All-England Championships in 2007 where they defeated compatriots Gao Ling and Huang Sui, and Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, the two dominant teams of the era, respectively in the semifinals and finals. All of her mixed doubles titles have been earned in partnership with Xie Zhongbo and they include the Badminton World Cup (2005), the China Masters (2006, 2008), and the Hong Kong (2005, 2008), Indonesia (2006), Macau (2007), and Thailand (2008) Opens.
Before 2009 Zhang had earned five medals, without yet "striking gold", at the BWF World Championships. At the 2005 tournament she took a bronze in women's doubles with Zhang Dan, and a silver with Xie Zhongbo in mixed doubles behind Indonesia's Lilyana Natsir and Nova Widianto. At the 2006 tournament Zhang and Wei Yili upset Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen in the semifinals but were beaten in the final by Gao Ling and Huang Sui. Zhang was eliminated in the semifinals of both doubles events at the 2007 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics she and Wei Yili were ousted from women's doubles gold medal contention in the semifinals by the eventual champions, compatriots Du Jing and Yu Yang. In the playoff for third place they salvaged a bronze medal by defeating Japan's Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna.
2009 proved to be Zhang's most successful season. With Zhao Tingting she captured women's doubles titles at the two most prestigious events for individual players outside of the Olympics, the All-England Championships and the BWF World Championships, defeating compatriots Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei in the final of each.
Read more about this topic: Zhang Yawen
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