Yang Zi
Press Association
A table tennis player prepares to serve.
Born: 19/06/1984
Place of birth: Beijing, China
Event: Table Tennis
Previous Olympics: 1
Previous medals: 0
Now a major force in international table tennis, Yang Zi is looking to build on his recent run of success.
Yang, who began competing on the ITTF Pro Tour in 2004, proved a force to be reckoned with at under-21 level, winning prestigious titles such as the Pro Tour Grand Finals in 2005.
He found the leap to the senior circuit slightly more difficult and his best results initially came in doubles and team events, including winning a mixed doubles gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with Zhang Xueling.
That all changed in Delhi two years ago, though, as Yang overcame team-mate Gao Ning 4-1 in the final of the men's singles to become Commonwealth champion.
It was the perfect end to a fruitful competition for the Beijing-born athlete, who had already claimed golds in the mixed doubles with Wang Yuegu and in the men's team event, as well as a silver with Gao in the doubles.
He reached the last 16 of the men's singles on his Olympic debut in Beijing four years ago.
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