Qiao Hong turns coach after a great career

Qiao Hong, one of the most feared Chinese women table tennis players, is at present the coach of Chinese women’s national table tennis team. She is also a member of the Chinese Olympic Committee. Qiao Hong was holding the second place for a long time in the ITTF rankings. Along with her compatriot and long-time world number one Deng Yaping, she formed a formidable doubles combination. After her retirement, the ITTF listed her in its Hall of Fame in 2005. At present, Qiao Hong is fully involved in getting her team ready for the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in her own country, China. One of the first titles earned by Qiao Hong was the World Championship Women’s singles title in 1989, when the event was held in Dortmund. Qiao Hong also won the doubles title in the same event, playing with Deng Yaping. In 1990, she won the women’s singles and doubles championships in the Asian Championship ATTU held in Kuala Lumpur.

Qiao Hong won a silver medal in the singles event in the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992 and a gold medal in the doubles event, partnering Deng Yaping. Again in 1996, in the Atlanta Olympic Games, she won a bronze medal in the singles event and a gold medal in the doubles event, again combining with Deng Yaping. In the same year, in the Pro Tour held in Kitaku-Shu in Japan, she emerged the winner in the singles event.

Qiao Hong was born on November 21, 1968 in Wuhan of Hubei Province in China. She began playing table tennis in 1975 at the age of 7. She joined the Chinese national team in December 1987. After playing for China for several years, she retired in 2,000 and later was made the coach of the Chinese women’s national team in January 2003.

At the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Qiao Hong and Deng Yaping won the doubles gold medal, overcoming their compatriots, Chen Zihe and Gao Jun, 21-13, 14-21, 21-14, and 21-19. Two days later, Qiao Hong faced her doubles partner Deng Yaping in the singles finals. Deng took the first 2 games easily at 21-6 and 21-8. Then Qiao Hong won the third game at 21-15, in a sudden surge of strong play. In the same vein, she was leading the fourth game 19-17. But Qiao Hong was unable to sustain the momentum and Deng regained control to take the game at 23-21. Qiao Hong had to be content with a silver medal.

It was a near repeat at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. Qiao Hong won the women’s doubles gold medal, playing with Deng Yaping. They defeated compatriots Liu Wei and Qiao Yunping 18-21, 25-23, 22-20, and 21-14. In spite of losing the first game, Qiao Hong and Deng Yaping proved that they were the real world champions by winning the next 3 games easily. However, in the singles event, she was able to muster only a bronze medal, overcoming Liu Wei 21-17, 15-21, 21-19, and 21-11.