Victory in defeat
Victory in defeat
10:07, January 29, 2010 
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"Mei Mei Ni Da Dan De Wang Qian Zou (Sisters, go forward bravely.)"
Lyrics from Zhang Yimou's epic film Red Sorghum
No Chinese player will lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Rod Laver Arena tomorrow night but the nation's top women players walk away from the year's first Grand Slam winners.
Despite Li Na and Zheng Jie's amazing runs Down Under coming to an end, the day two Chinese players reached the last four of a Grand Slam tournament will be remembered forever.
Apart from hundreds of Chinese at the site, millions of people here watched the matches live on TV, praying their national heroines could produce more miracles.
I am sure they won't be too disappointed because witnessing Li and Zheng marching on to the Open's center court alongside two greats while basking in the applause of a packed stadium was already a mesmerizing and proud moment.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute Madam Sun Jinfang, China's tennis chief. Sun enacted a groundbreaking reform by allowing four top players, Li, Zheng, Peng Shuai, currently the world No 46, and Yan Zi, Zheng's Grand Slam doubles titles winning partner, to leave the state-supported training system and manage their own careers at the end of 2008.
It is that move which has brought new life to those careers and Chinese tennis in general.
Since the initiative, Li and Zheng have rewritten China's tennis history. They both reached No 15 in the world, the peak for a Chinese player, and created more history in Melbourne by filling out half of the women's semifinal roster.
Talking on the phone last night, Sun, who did not travel to the Australia but watched the games on TV, told me she was extremely proud the move has proven to be a success.
As expected, Sun remains cautious about allowing more young Chinese players to follow in the footsteps of the quartet, saying the old system still provides security for young players "who are not strong enough to survive on the highly-competitive WTA tour".
I don't agree. I think promising players should be released as early as possible so they can grow up through experiencing the ups and downs of the tour.
Like raising children, you cannot keep them under your wings forever. The best way to grow up is to give them their wings and let them fly.
Mei Mei Ni Da Dan De Wang Qian Zou.
Yu Yilei is the sports editor of China Daily. Reach him at yuyilei@chinadaily.com.cn
Source: China Daily
Lyrics from Zhang Yimou's epic film Red Sorghum
No Chinese player will lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Rod Laver Arena tomorrow night but the nation's top women players walk away from the year's first Grand Slam winners.
Despite Li Na and Zheng Jie's amazing runs Down Under coming to an end, the day two Chinese players reached the last four of a Grand Slam tournament will be remembered forever.
Apart from hundreds of Chinese at the site, millions of people here watched the matches live on TV, praying their national heroines could produce more miracles.
I am sure they won't be too disappointed because witnessing Li and Zheng marching on to the Open's center court alongside two greats while basking in the applause of a packed stadium was already a mesmerizing and proud moment.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute Madam Sun Jinfang, China's tennis chief. Sun enacted a groundbreaking reform by allowing four top players, Li, Zheng, Peng Shuai, currently the world No 46, and Yan Zi, Zheng's Grand Slam doubles titles winning partner, to leave the state-supported training system and manage their own careers at the end of 2008.
It is that move which has brought new life to those careers and Chinese tennis in general.
Since the initiative, Li and Zheng have rewritten China's tennis history. They both reached No 15 in the world, the peak for a Chinese player, and created more history in Melbourne by filling out half of the women's semifinal roster.
Talking on the phone last night, Sun, who did not travel to the Australia but watched the games on TV, told me she was extremely proud the move has proven to be a success.
As expected, Sun remains cautious about allowing more young Chinese players to follow in the footsteps of the quartet, saying the old system still provides security for young players "who are not strong enough to survive on the highly-competitive WTA tour".
I don't agree. I think promising players should be released as early as possible so they can grow up through experiencing the ups and downs of the tour.
Like raising children, you cannot keep them under your wings forever. The best way to grow up is to give them their wings and let them fly.
Mei Mei Ni Da Dan De Wang Qian Zou.
Yu Yilei is the sports editor of China Daily. Reach him at yuyilei@chinadaily.com.cn
Source: China Daily
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