Zhao, He Win Mixed Doubles Badminton Title at National Games
Zhao Tingting, the newly crowned world champion, has added another medal when she paired up with Olympian He Hanbin to win the badminton mixed doubles title at the 11th edition of the Chinese National Games in Qingdao last weekend. The duo represented the People’s Liberation Army.
The two badminton superstars faced Tian Qing and Zheng Bo of Hunan and it was a highly competitive match with the winners losing the first badminton set 14-21 but eventually made a comeback in the second with 21-8 scoreline. The decider was a nailbiter with the lead switching from side to side before the crucial two points won by Zhao and He at the final moments of the game. It was deadlocked at 19 before He and Zhao anted up their strategy to win the next two points to seal the victory at 21-19.
Zhao revealed after the match that this will be her third and last National Games. She has decided to retire from the professional sport to concentrate on her college studies which she will start in a few months time.
She added that she no longer placed pressure on herself after winning the women’s doubles title in the 2009 World Championships because she already anticipated her retirement from the sport.
She added that winning another title was a perfect conclusion of her lustrous career.
