Defending badminton champion Zhang Ning never regreted for what she had paid for the coming Olympic Games in the last four years.

"I've devoted my whole heart and soul to preparation for the Olympiad and sacrificed a lot," said Zhang, who won the gold medal in women's singles at the Athens Olympics, citing her enduring injuries and endless pains.

"But I won't feel any regret for that since I've tried my best," said the veteran shuttler who has been regarded as a miracle for battling on badminton court at the age of 33 and still a champion hopeful for Beijing.

At the coming Olympics, Zhang Thursday wrote in her personal blog that she would throw away all the pressures and exhibit her best performance against each opponent.

"Thank you all for your understanding and support," the champion from Liaoning Province who had edged out world champion Zhu Lin from Shanghai at the last moment, expressed her gratitude toward badminton fans.

The badminton competition will start from August 9 to 17 at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)