China's world badminton champion Zhou Mi will try to work her way
through to the Beijing Olympics despite making a humiliating early
exit from the Badminton Super Series Singapore Open 2007.
The 27-year-old Zhou, the bronze medallist at the Athens Olympic
Games, told the official website of the Singapore Open that she
does not rule out the possibility of competing in the Olympics
again.
"There is no such thing as impossible. At least I will try and I
definitely do not want to live my life regretting over not trying,"
said Zhou, who retired from the Chinese national team in 2006 due
to long-time knee injuries.
"I love badminton. Badminton is my hobby and my life. I don't
want to live my life with regret for not fulfilling my dream.
"I believe it is the same for all athletes, every one of us goes
on playing the game because of our passion to pursue the
sport."
Zhou was imported into Hong Kong, China, around the New Year's
Day this year based on the Top Talent Importing Program and has
trained with the region's badminton team for four months.
"It's a new beginning for me as a player as I am representing
Hong Kong now after leaving the competitive arena for almost two
years."
Zhou, without regular training in the past two years, squeezed
her way through three rounds of qualifying matches only to lose on
Wednesday to France's defendign champion Pi Hongyan in the opening
round of the main draw at the ongoing Singapore Open, an event
serving as a qualification for next year's Beijing Olympics.
However, Li Yongbo, head coach of the China national badminton
team, affirmed early this year that it was impossible for Zhou to
play for the region, according to the rule of World Badminton
Federatin (BWF) that one could only play for another country or
region after he or she is out of the previous team for two
years.
"The relationship is OK for me and my former teammates and
coaches," she said of the Team China. "Coach Li Yongbo released me
from the team. Therefore, I left the team with permission and after
that I joined Hong Kong under the talent program.
"As an independent player I do have the right to go anywhere I
want to go without consulting anybody. It will be very strange if I
contact Li and consult him regarding my moving to Hong Kong because
he might have said that I am no longer part of the national
team."
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2007)
