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IN HAPPIER TIMES: Zhang Xueling (above right) and Zheng Qi were married in 2006. Her greatest moment in Singapore's colours came earlier that year, when she won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. -- ST FILE PHOTOS
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SINGAPORE'S table tennis fraternity has rallied behind Commonwealth Games champion Zhang Xueling, following the tragic death of her husband in a car crash in China last week.
Officials and players from the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) have sent funeral donations and a wreath to the former national star, who left Singapore last year to join her husband, Zheng Qi, in China.
Zheng, 30, was the former assistant coach of the Singapore men's table tennis team. He had returned to China to coach the Shanghai women's team after the 2006 Asian Games.
He and Zhang had married in 2006 after dating for five years. They were reportedly planning to start a family soon.
But fate had different ideas.
Zheng died in a car accident in Shanghai last Wednesday night while driving home from a training session.
The news stunned officials and players, who knew the pair when they were in Singapore.
Said STTA's chief executive Jackie Tay yesterday: 'We are shocked and deeply saddened by this unexpected tragedy.
'Our hearts go out to Xueling and Zheng Qi's family at this difficult time.'
China-born Zhang, 25, became a Singapore citizen in 2001, and went on to have a glittering career.
She was part of the women's team that won Singapore's first Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2002.
Three years later, she created waves by shocking teammate Li Jiawei, the nation's top player, for the South-east Asia Games singles title.
In 2006, she became Singapore's most decorated athlete at the Commonwealth Games after winning four of the country's five golds. She captured the women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles crowns, in addition to being part of the victorious women's team.
Her bereavement has triggered an outpouring of sympathy and support from the Singapore table tennis community.
Zhang's former teammates and team officials, many of whom were at the Japan Open in Yokohama, called her upon hearing the news.
They have donated over $5,000 to help her cover funeral expenses.
The STTA has also sent an official to represent it at the funeral in Shanghai. Zheng will be cremated tomorrow.
Several of the couple's friends have also left for China to be with Zhang.
Madam Chia Hwee Ngoh, 48, a close friend of the paddler, will attend the funeral. She said in a telephone interview from Shanghai: 'She was very distraught, but is a lot better now, because all her friends and relatives have been keeping her company.'
National youth coach Zhang Yiqing has also flown to China to lend his support.
Former national star Jing Junhong, who partnered Zhang at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, has been comforting her former teammate via phone calls and Internet messaging.
'Zheng Qi was a very nice man who was also very committed to both his wife and table tennis,' Jing told The Straits Times.
She added: 'I have told Xueling that she must remain strong and face reality.
'I believe that she will recover from this eventually, but it will take her some time.'
Zhang was uncontactable for comment.
tvoon@sph.com.sg
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