Beijing: China's Olympic champion Ding Ning has been appointed principal of Beijing's Xiannongtan Sports School, four years after her retirement from competitive table tennis. Ding, who is 35 years old, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Her notable achievements include winning the singles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a victory that marked her as the fifth Chinese female paddler to achieve a career Grand Slam, following the footsteps of legends such as Deng Yaping, Wang Nan, Zhang Yining, and Li Xiaoxia.

According to Namibia Press Agency, after retiring in 2021, Ding pursued a master's degree at Peking University. Upon her graduation in 2023, she took on the role of a lecturer in the university's Department of Physical Education. Her influence in the sporting community continued to grow, and in 2024, she was elected Chair of the Olympic Council of Asia Athletes' Committee, a testament to her leadership and experience in sports.

The Xiannongtan Sports School, founded in 1956 and affiliated with the Beijing Sports Bureau, is responsible for selecting and nurturing talent in sports such as table tennis, gymnastics, athletics, tennis, weightlifting, women's football, and rugby. The institution has a storied history, having produced 10,000 athletes for national and municipal sports delegations. Among its notable alumni are established table tennis players, including Ding herself, Ma Long, and Zhang.

In recent years, the school has also seen the recruitment of prominent figures like Wang Hao, China's men's table tennis team coach, and Wang Chuqin, the men's singles world No. 1, through competitive exams. These developments underscore the school's continued commitment to excellence in sports education and athlete development.