Zhang Ning to Retire after Beijing Olympics

2006-09-23 08:36:29 Xinhua

(File Photo: sportsphoto.cn)

The reigning Olympic champion Zhang Ning revealed on Friday that the 2008 Olympic Games will be her swansong.

The top-seeded Chinese shuttler made that statement after she overcame a loss of concentration to reach the women's singles semifinals of the World Championships with a 20-22, 21-10, 21-10 win over Tracey Hallam of England.

"I will have my farewell show in the Beijing Olympic Games, I will try my best to assure it a success," the 31-year-old said.

Second-seeded Xu Huaiwen, from Germany, also met some trouble in disposing of Bulgaria Petya Nedeltcheva 21-14, 17-21, 21-16.

In the semifinals, she will meet the winner between the third seed Xie Xingfang and the fifth seed Pi Hongyan, while Zhang will play the winner between Petra overzier and Jiang Yanjiao.

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