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Ning Zhang wins badminton singles title
2004-08-19
ATHENS, Greece - China won the first gold medal of the Olympic badminton tournament Thursday when world champion Zhang Ning beat Indonesian-born Dutchwoman Mia Audina 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 in the final.Eight years after winning silver for Indonesia, Audina gave her adopted home country its first badminton medal, but her spirited performance was not enough to beat Zhang, the overwhelming favorite. Zhou Mi defeated fellow Chinese Gong Ruina 11-2, 8-11, 11-6 in a lackluster bronze medal game that left the top seed without a medal. Audina lost the final in the Atlanta Games, but as a 16-year old was still the youngest medalist in the sport. At 29, Zhang is the veteran on the team but is only in her first Olympics, since China's talent is so deep. Audina said she was happy Zhang finally won the biggest game possible so late in her career. ``She won't have another chance in four years time, but I will,'' said Audina. China was expected to do very well in Athens but a few shock eliminations in the qualifying rounds of the other badminton events made two medals in the first event all the more welcome. ``We have one gold and one bronze and this will do good for the whole team. It will encourage them,'' said Zhang. The bronze medal game in the mixed doubles earlier Thursday was an all-Danish affair, with Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager beating compatriots Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen 15-5, 15-5. Zhang lost the opening set of the women's final before coming back strongly. ``I had to persevere, until the end,'' she said. Audina thrilled the crowd at the Goudi Olympic Hall with a series of smashes and dropshots that had Zhang scurrying all over court. A few lucky net calls helped the stocky Dutchwoman race to a 7-1 lead. At that stage, Zhang stopped making unforced errors and missing easy volleys. Within minutes she leveled the score at 7-7. A disputed line call gave Audina the momentum again as she took a 10-8 lead. On game point, Zhang smashed into the net. Audina bent over and clinched her fists. About 200 Dutch fans in the hall kept shouting ``Mia, Mia, Mia.'' The second game started out much more evenly, with the players trading serves. By that time Audina was tiring, feeling the effects of an intensive semifinal the evening before. Zhang's smashes helped the Chinese to a 7-4 lead and she held the upper hand for the rest of the set, taking it 11-6. Zhang quickly reached a 3-0 lead in the decider before Audina, cheered on by the Dutch crowd, clawed back to 3-3. Two unforced errors on smashes gave the initiative to Zhang for good. She raced to an 8-5 lead as Audina put easy balls wide. Zhang earned her first match point with a great crosscourt drop shot that saw the shuttle land just in. On her third match point, she finished Audina off with an easy smash at the net. She immediately threw her racket into the air and threw herself into the arms of the Chinese coaches. AP
Ning Zhang wins badminton singles title (2004-08-19)China's women take control at world badminton championships (2001-06-08)2 (11285)
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