At the 2015 World Table Tennis Championships, Ding won her second world title in women's singles by defeating her compatriot Liu Shiwen 4–3 in the final. At the 2017 World Table Tennis Championships in Düsseldorf Ding defeated Zhu Yuling 4–2 in the final, becoming World Champion for the third time. She won the women's table tennis singles gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics where she beat compatriot Li Xiaoxia in the women's singles final. She previously won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the women's singles event. She was part of the Chinese team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.[4] She is one of the most successful female table tennis players (alongside Li Xiaoxia, Deng Yaping, Wang Nan, Zhang Yining) having won the gold medal in each of the Table Tennis World Cup, the Table Tennis World Championships, and the Olympic Games.
She is currently retired, and studying in Peking University for a master's degree in Physical Education. Ding officially announced her retirement in September 2021.[5]
In the Olympic Singles final against compatriot Li Xiaoxia, Italian umpire Paola Bongelli repeatedly cautioned Ding for her backhand tomahawk serve [clarification needed]. Bongelli deducted 3 penalty points from Ding leading her to break down in tears in the fourth set. The decision from Bongelli affected the game, Ding's composure and her timing, and caused Ding to lose the final. After the game Ding stated, "I had an obstacle today, and not only from the opponent but from the judge as well. I was affected by the judge. After the first one (point penalty), I tried to keep cool but could not hold it after the second. The judge was too strict. I always serve the ball like this. I have done that for the last two years and, even from the first game of the Olympics, I have served like this. I do not know what to say. As soon as I raised my hand to serve, she sentenced me with a service violation."[citation needed]
International Table Tennis Federation president Adham Sharara tried to console Ding, congratulating her on her silver medal before saying he hoped the 22-year-old would return to win gold in Rio in four years time.[6]
He admitted he would have been more flexible saying, “She felt that the umpire was too strict on her and this happens sometimes,” he said. “The umpires can be very strict and the players should adapt. When two players from the same country play each other, the umpire should be a little bit more lenient. If I was the umpire I would have been maybe a little bit more flexible.” [7]
Pro Tour Winner (11): Kuwait Open (2009); English, UAE, Austrian Open (2011); Slovenian, Polish Open (2012); Austrian, Qatar, Russian Open (2013); China Open (2014); Korea, China Open (2016); China Open (2017) Runner-up (4): German Open (2010); Qatar, Harmony China <Suzhou> Open (2011); KRA Korea Open (2012); Kuwait, China, Polish Open (2015); Kuwait, Qatar, Japan Open (2016).
Pro Tour Grand Finals Winner (1): Lisbon, Portugal (2015) appearances: 4. Record: runner-up (2009, 11,12,13).
World Championships: winner (2017), runner-up (2009, 2011,2013,2015).
Pro Tour Winner (18): Danish, China (Tianjin) Open (2009); Qatar Open (2010); Austrian Open (2011); Hungarian, Slovenian, KRA Korea Open (2012); Austrian, Kuwait, Qatar, Russian Open (2013); China Open (2014); Kuwait, Polish Open (2015); Kuwait, Qatar, Japan, Korean Open (2016); China Open (2017) Runner-up (8): China (Nanjing) Open 2007; Qatar Open (2009); Kuwait, German, China Open (2010); English, Qatar, Harmony China <Suzhou> Open (2011); China Open (2012,16)
Pro Tour Grand Finals appearances: 3. Record: winner (2009,2013,2015).
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