Li Na, Liu Xiang lead china's charge in 2011
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail
China Daily, December 30, 2011
BetweenLiu Xiang's dramatic comeback, world titles in swimming, badminton and gymnastics and a banner year for the CBA, there was something for everyone in 2011. But nothing could touch Li Na's French Open championship and the sudden surge of interest in the sport among Chinese fans. China Daily picks some of our favorite highlights for the nation this year.
 |
1. New-found glory on the tennis court
China's No 1 sports figure of 2011 was undoubtedly Li Na, the country and continent's first Grand Slam tennis champion.
Screaming with delight after her epic victory over Italian Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final at Roland Garros on June 4, Li wrote her name into Chinese sports history and realized a dream that had been decades in the making.
Her triumph was witnessed by 116 million TV viewers nationwide, the biggest audience in Chinese sports broadcasting history.
The victory in Paris not only has brought Li fame and wealth, but also showed Chinese could top the world in "western" sports, much as basketball icon Yao Ming did in the NBA.
Li's charming personality and witty humor also helped break the stereotype of the silent Chinese athlete and placed her among the leaders of modern-day sports celebrities in China.
As a role model, she provided a major boost for a sport already rising fast in China.
"I congratulate Li on this historic moment, which gives credit to her incredible skill, determination and perseverance," said Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of the WTA. "Her win will inspire an entire generation of young girls to play tennis and propel the sport to new levels of global popularity and growth."
China's second highest-ranking female player, Peng Shuai, didn't go so far as to have a historic breakthrough, but did a more consistent year, improving her ranking to a career-best No 14 in August, up from No 78 at the end of last year, and reaching the last 16 of each Grand Slam event except the French Open.
She also stormed into four WTA tournament semifinals and one final, and finished the season with a dazzling 53-21 record, the sixth best of the calendar year.
Meanwhile, veteran Zheng Jie rediscovered her form after coming back from a severe wrist injury while tuning up to pursue the doubles gold medal at the London Olympics with Peng.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)