The second seed fought back after losing the first game against fourth seed Mia Audina of the Netherlands to secure an 8-11 11-6 11-7 victory.

Audina, who also won silver when playing for her birth country Indonesia in 1996, saved two match points but Zhang sealed victory with a smash.

Zhou Mi of China had earlier beaten compatriot Gong Ruina 11-2 8-11 11-6 to win the bronze medal.

Zhou, the third seed, lost to Gong in the final of the All England championships in March.

But the 25-year-old raced 5-0 ahead in the first game before the top seed scored and despite faltering in the second, claimed victory in the third.