At 30, world No.2 Zhou Mi vows to fight on

Zhou Mi, women's world second-ranked badminton player, said here on Thursday that she will fight on and will not retire soon.

The 30-year-old, now representing Hong Kong, beat Cheng Wen of Hunan 21-15, 19-21, 21-15 in the first round of the 11th Chinese National Games.

"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, bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

She said that she will not give her much pressure at the Games. "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."

Zhou, who secured residence in Hong Kong in 2007, said she will also play in the East Asian Games to be held later this year in Hong Kong.

Zhou has won more than 20 international singles titles on the world circuit and has achieved number one world rankings at various times.

After a controversial Athens Olympics, where China's head coach Li Yongbo instructed her to throw a match in the semifinal match against teammate Zhang Ning, she retired in 2005.

She played no tournaments in 2006 but reemerged on the world badminton circuit in 2007.

Source: Xinhua