The Table Tennis World, whose editor in chief is the former International Table Tennis Federation president Xu Yinsheng, awarded the honor to the 23-year-old Chinese, who won more votes than women's world championships and World Cup winner Ding Ning and ITTF Finals men's singles champion Ma Long.

　　Zhang ousted more heraded teammate Wang Hao for the men's singles title at the world championships last May and beat Wang again later in the year for the World Cup crown.