Miracles can happen as China's Zhang strikes gold
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-20 06:36

China's Zhang Ning described winning an Olympic gold medal at the age of 29 as a miracle.

Zhang Ning celebrates. [Xinhua]

Zhang produced a rousing comeback to defeat fourth seed Mia Audina of the Netherlands 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 in an enthralling women's singles badminton final in Athens at the Goudi Complex on Thursday.

Chinese number three seed Zhou Mi took bronze after beating compatriot and top seed Gong Ruina earlier in the day.

"It's a miracle to win at the age of 29," said Zhang, appearing at her first Olympics.

"I didn't do so well in the first game as I was too defensive, but I persevered and came through."

Zhang, who threw her racquet down onto the floor after her winning smash and ran over to cry in the arms of her coach, said taking the gold was just reward for her efforts in the last few years.

"I have improved my tactics and mentally I am better prepared," she said.

"I think I am more mature and I've been playing better and better."

Asked if she felt more pressure to succeed after the disappointing performance of the Chinese in the men's singles, she replied: "Not really, if anything I was putting pressure on myself."

Audina, a silver medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Games at the age of 16 when she represented Indonesia, admitted she was second best on the day.

"We've known each other for a long time and I don't think there is much to choose between us, but today she played better than me and deserved to win," she said magnanimously.

Audina stormed into a 7-2 lead but Zhang drew on all her fighting spirit to draw level.

Recovering her composure, Audina allowed Zhang just one more point as she wrapped up the first game with her intelligent net play and deceptive drop shots proving decisive.

Audina played two matches on Wednesday, her semi-final and a women's doubles semi-final, and it showed in a slugglish second game as Gong and her fresher legs squared the match.

Audina got a second wind and opened up a 3-0 advantage in the decider but a series of unforced errors enabled Zhang to take the next five points in a contest that gripped a near full-house.

Back came Audina to restore parity only for Zhang to pile on the pressure, conceding just two more points on her way to victory.

In taking gold and bronze, China equalled their achievement at the Sydney Games in the women's singles.