Zhang Xielin

Zhang Xielin is a Chinese table tennis player, born in July 1940, who was active in the 1960s. He played with a pen-grip hold and a distinctive chopping style, using steady chops and unpredictable spin from long-pimple rubber, and is regarded as one of the earliest successful long-pimple players. In 1963 he and Wang Zhiliang won the men's doubles at the World Table Tennis Championships, making him the first Chinese player to win that title. He won eight World Championship medals in total, four of them gold: the men's doubles, a mixed doubles title with Lin Huiqing, and two in the team event. Many years later he was chosen to carry the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.