Jiao Zhimin

In this Chinese name, the family name is Jiao.
Jiao Zhimin
Personal information
Native name焦志敏
NationalityChinese
Born (1963-12-01) 1 December 1963 (age 61)
Yichun, Heilongjiang, China
Medal record
Women's table tennis
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul Singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1987 New Delhi Team
Silver medal – second place 1987 New Delhi Mixed Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Gothenburg Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Gothenburg Mixed Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1987 New Delhi Doubles

Jiao Zhimin (Chinese: 焦志敏; born December 1, 1963)[1] is a Chinese-born naturalised-South Korean[2] former table tennis player. She won a bronze medal in women's singles and a silver medal in women's doubles at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.[1] She was a semi-finalist in women's singles and doubles at the 1985 World Championships in Gothenburg.[3] At the 1987 World Championships in New Delhi she was runner-up in the mixed doubles, and was a member of China's victorious team.[3]

Personal life

In 1984, she met South Korean table tennis player Ahn Jae-hyung at the 1984 Asian Table Tennis Championships in Islamabad, Pakistan. She and Ahn married in 1989 in Sweden due to the lack of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea at that time. Their marriage generated a massive hype within the South Korean media.[4][5] The couple's son, golfer An Byeong-hun, became the youngest champion in United States Amateur Championship history,[4] winning the 2009 event at the age of 17.

After her marriage to Ahn, Jiao retired from professional table tennis and acquired South Korean citizenship. She engaged in business, and started a Korean restaurant and fashion store in Harbin. From 2004, she served as the chairman of an information consulting service founded by her in Beijing.[6][7] In 2010, she was appointed as a public relations ambassador for Jeju Island, a position which she would serve for two years.[8] In 2013, she was appointed as the chairman of Omnitel China.[9] In recent years, Jiao has hosted a talk show on China's CCTV-5 television sports channel. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she has since returned to South Korea.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jiao Zhimin Biography and Olympic Results". www.Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  2. ^ 자오즈민으로 시작한 귀화…평창올림픽도 '푸른눈 한국인' 열풍. 15 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b "JIAO Zenmin (CHN)". ITTF Database. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  4. ^ a b Lei, Lei (2009-09-17). "Champs' son keeps the ball rolling". China Daily.
  5. ^ "Chinese Sportswomen Marry International". Women of China. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  6. ^ "[焦志敏专栏] 为韩中两国选手加油". Chosun. 2008-01-08. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "乒一姐远嫁韩国，拒绝为他国效力，成商业女强人获上亿身价". Sohu. 2023-01-17. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Kim, Daeyoung (2010-11-15). 자오즈민, 제주도 홍보대사 위촉. Jeju News. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  9. ^ '자오즈민-안재영' 외아들 병훈 아마 골프 우승. Chosun. 2009-09-14. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  10. ^ 세기의 韓-中 '핑퐁 커플' 안재형-자오즈민 "34년 전 결혼, 요즘은 제2의 신혼"[이헌재의 인생홈런]. Donga. 2023-05-21. Retrieved July 30, 2023.


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