WORLDS 2010 – Wang Xin ruins French hopes

Wang Xin ruined all chances to get a French player within the last four, defeating local favourite Pi Hongyan in two straight games in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships.

By Tarek Hafi (live in Paris).  Photo: Badmintonphoto (live)

The diminutive Chinese girl showed she had other features to compensate, mainly her fast coverage on the court and quick smashes. Pi Hongyan, despite of her excellent preparation she had before with Tine Baun and her coach Fabrice Vallet, was at no time able to cope with Wang Xin, probably the best Chinese player at the moment with her incredible consistency and mental strength.

“At the beginning it was so quick and she was smashing all the time,” said Pi.   “I couldn’t track her.  I was really surprised by her speed, even when I was watching the videos.  I knew the game was quick but still I was a bit surprised.”

Often asked if Paris would be her last run, Pi Hongyan all but revealed she is still aiming at London’s Olympic in 2012:  “It’s true at the beginning of the season I was away from the circuit; therefore I needed to regain those missing points by participating in lots of tournaments, also if I want to be in the Olympic run, which is starting in May, in order to get seeded easily.”

On the other hand, the Chinese player has two other Wangs to worry about if she wants to bring the title back to China, under her name.  She will be counting on a final meeting with Tine Baun, the Dane has never beaten Wang Xin in four encounters.  Meanwhile, though, Wang Xin faces off in the semi-final against Wang Shixian.  These two Wangs came onto the international scene at the same time last summer, playing three engaging Grand Prix Gold matches together but this is their first time playing on such a big stage.

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