Born: January 13, 1979 (Yang); January 14, 1981 (Zhang); both in Guangdong
Entry: Doubles
Credentials: Gold at Athens 2004 and 2007 world championships
Why they'll win: Because they want to go out with a bang. China has a proud history in women's doubles, winning every title since 1996. Ge Fei and Gu Jun won back-to-back golds at Atlanta and Sydney then promptly retired. Yang and Zhang are perfectly positioned to follow suit. The only setback came in the Singapore Super Series in June when world number five pair Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung beat them in the last four en route to the title. 'They were very familiar with the Chinese pairs, which we didn't expect,' says head coach Li Yongbo. Beijing will be Zhang's last hurrah before she retires and marries Malaysian men's doubles specialist Choong Tan Fook, with whom she enjoyed a secret four-year romance until Choong spilt the beans early this year.
Who can stop them: Du Jing and Yu Yang (China), Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung (South Korea), Chien Yu-chin and Cheng Wen-hsing (Taiwan)
Final: Friday 15th