Yes, in the just-concluded China Open Super Series, i'm sure many of you have watched it yesterday. Even if you have missed the ever nail biting matches, i'm sure you have read about it in the newspaper.
Headlines everywhere.
WONG MEW CHOO becoming the winner for the China Open Super Series Women's Singles.
After beating these players:
[32]Zhu Jingjing 21-19 21-11
[16]Pi Hongyan 21-17 16-21 21-11
[QF] Zhu Lin 18-21 21-9 21-13
[SF] Zhang Ning 21-16 21-19
[F] Xie Xingfang 16-21 21-8 17-21
Not easy huh! But the fact that she destroy's the Chinese domination was definitely something to remember. I always like to see Mew Choo playing. She never gives up. She makes the effort to run everywhere to TRY to retrieve the shuttle when it seems impossible.
In the finale against Xie Xingfang, she was ALWAYS trailing in the decider game. And yet, she held on. She fought point to point but never had the chance to lead the game until it was tied at 16-16. Then it suddenly became the turning point for Mew Choo as she put on the pressure on Xie Xingfang.
From The Star Newspaper:
“I just cannot believe it. I have never ever won an Open title before and I have ended the drought in China. This is incredible ... I am so happy right now,” said Mew Choo in a telephone interview from Guangzhou yesterday.
“The hopes are usually on the men to win titles for the country but I am glad that I have done it for the women.”
“I came here with a target to reach the quarter-finals. I knew I had a fighting chance against Hongyan (the world number five). But beating Zhu Lin for the first time gave me confidence,” she said.
“Then, I defeated Zhang Ning for the first time after losing seven times to her. I kept asking myself, is it all really happening?
“After reaching the final, I was bent on winning the title. I have beaten Xingfang once (at the World Championships) but many thought that I was lucky to win it. Today, I proved that the win was no fluke. She had the crowd behind her but I never gave up even though I lost terribly in the second game.”
“I do not have to worry about making the cut for the Olympics if I continue playing like this. In fact, this win has given me a lot of confidence. Now, I know that I can challenge for an Olympic medal.
“However, I do not want to be overly excited. I will be competing in the Hong Kong Open next week and I hope to reach the last eight.”
Said national coach Wong Tat Meng of Mew Choo's success: “What more I can say? Mew Choo has made us all very proud today. She has given a new image to Malaysian women's badminton.”
But don't let the victory get over you, Mew Choo. You still need to stay focused and stay consistent in order to be up on level with the Chinese great players. Tine Rasmussen also did what you did in the Japan Open but she is still inconsistent.
Still, we'll all be rooting for your success again in the coming Hong Kong open!!
