Double Olympic badminton gold medalist Zhang Ning will carry the flag of the Chinese delegation at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games on Sunday, the International Olympic Committee announced.

Zhang, 33, defeated teammate and world number one Xie Xingfang last Saturday to successfully defend the women's singles title she won in Athens four years ago.

Zhang is the oldest woman to win the Olympic title in the sport.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2008)