Sport

Zhang retains women’s crown

BEIJING: Defending champion Zhang Ning of China defeated teammate Xie Xingfang in the final of women’s singles on Saturday to claim China’s second gold in badminton.

The 33-year-old second-seeded Zhang defeated No. 1 Xie 21-12, 10-21, 21-18 to defend the title she won four years ago in Athens.

Meanwhile, China’s Chen Jin won the men’s singles bronze defeating South Korean champion Lee Hyunil in a gruelling play-off. China’s fourth seed clinched the first game before fighting off a ferocious challenge from the South Korean to eventually win the exhausting encounter 21-16, 12-21, 21-14.

Indonesia’s Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan won the men’s doubles gold defeating China’s Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 12-21, 21-11, 21-16.

Saturday’s win was an emotional one for Zhang, who has fought through a right knee injury this year and at one point thought she would not recover in time.

“I wasn’t even sure I would take part in this Olympics,” said Zhang. “But because it was in Beijing I wanted to be here.”

After winning the match with a drop shot that Xie returned into the net, Zhang dropped to her knees and thrust both arms in the air.

She said a lot of training and a tenacious desire were the keys to her win.

“I thought I was too old in Athens,” said Zhang. “I haven’t felt good physically but I persevered and did a lot of training to win this gold. Tenacity was the key.”

Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia won the bronze, defeating Lu Lan of China 11-21, 21-13, 21-15.

Zhang took a 19-17 lead in the third game with a smash down the line that Xie couldn’t reach. A drop shot at the net gave Zhang match point.

Xie wasn’t herself in the first game but quickly recovered, taking a 5-0 lead in the second game. She looked poised for a comeback after winning the second game, but Zhang took an 11-6 lead at the break in the final game and held on. Xie tied the game 16-all but that was as close as she would get.

China coach Li Yongbo took a risk selecting Zhang over 2007 World champion Zhu Lin.

Zhu is ranked No. 3 in the world, while Zhang is only ranked at No. 7 due to her absence from key tournaments this year because of injury.

Before the Olympics, Li said he wouldn’t be surprised if Zhang won the gold and on Saturday she came through for her coach and for China.

“My knee has been swollen for 100 days,” said Zhang. “But I recovered and when the coach said he thought I could win gold it inspired me to do my best.”

Xie had to settle for the silver. Her boyfriend Lin Dan will meet Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei in the men’s final on Sunday.

Meanwhile, China lost its chance for a gold medal sweep when its mixed doubles pair of Yu Yang and He Hanbin faltered at the hands of the top seeds from Indonesia, Nova Widianto and Liliyana.

Yu and He commanded the first set of the semifinal with repeated smashes and won 21-15. The Indonesians gained a long lead early in the second, though, by keeping the cock low and effectively shutting down the Chinese attack, taking it at 21-11. In a neck-and-neck third game, it took the Indonesian pair four tries at match point before Widianto found an open space on the Chinese side of the court near the line to win it 23-21 and advance to the final. — Agencies

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