Chinese National Games Individual Competitions

 Just days after Xie Xingfang (at left) and her Guandong teammates won the silver medal in the team competition, Xie has been eliminated from individual competitions.  She lost to world number one ranked Lin Wang  in the quarter-finals 21-15, 21-16.  Xie who one a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, and was the World Champion in '06 and '07 had stated before the national games that she would retire and focus on college studies.  "I have submitted my application and it has been approved," said Xie." After the National Games, I will take a break to prepare myself mentally and physically for a new life."
 
 

The recently crowned women's World Champion Lan Lu was also defeated today.  She lost to Li Wen of Hubei 19-21, 17-21.   Afterwards a tearful Lu said, ""I dearly wanted a win but I didn't prepare well for the match," said Lu. "It's really a big regret that I cannot do something after our success in team event. I had hoped to go as far as I can at the National Games but I never expected such an early loss."   Jiangsu's head coach Sun Zhian said that Lu was too nervous and made a lot of unforced errors.    Li Wen said of her victory, "She is obviously not in her best form."  Wen will now face Jiang Yanjiao of the People's Liberation Army in the quarter-finals.  
 
World number two Mi Zhou had better luck today and beat Cheng Wen of Hunan 21-15, 19-21, 21-15.  "Though I am in my thirties, I still enjoy playing. That's why I am still there. I hope to have a playing career as long as possible," said Zhou.  She went on to say, ""I have not been in good shape recently so I will go back to Hong Kong for a medical check-up after the National Games. I don't care a lot about how far I could go in the singles at this games."
 
In the men's competition Chen Long was beaten by Beijing's Du Pengyu 21-15, 15-21, 23-25.  Long helped his Fujian team win a silver in the team competition and was said to be a favorite in the individual competition.  After his defeat he said, ""I was too anxious to earn points, especially in the decider, I led by a big margin but then made excessive errors."  Du said he was outmatched in overall strength, "But today I prepared well for this match, played actively and took some decisive points."   Long was the 2007 World Junior Champion, and is said to be one of the next rising stars for China.
 
Lin Dan advanced easily beating Jiangsu's Li Yu 21-6, 21-10 to advance to the quarter-finals.  Dan said, ""The National Games is really hard as there are many tough guys like Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin."  

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