SPORTS> China
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SPORTS> China
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Sorenstam wants to inspire Chinese women
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-30 17:09 Ten-times major winner Annika Sorenstam hopes her presence in China for two weeks will help inspire young women golfers in the world's most populous country.
The 38-year-old Swede, who will be "stepping aside" from professional golf at the end of the season, played in the first LPGA event in China last weekend and is in Suzhou, near Shanghai, for this week's inaugural Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open. "I'm here to inspire young golfers," she said in a news release. "I've been given so much in so many years, that's why I've come here to help inspire young Chinese women." Chinese golf officials have in the past said the country's major breakthrough could come through its women rather than men. Like the men, though, China's female players have a reputation for being reluctant travellers. China has just one player on the LPGA Tour, 19-year-old Feng Shanshan, who last week said some of her compatriots were not keen to follow her abroad. "Everyone has different situations and preferences," Feng said after finishing sixth on home soil at the Grand China Air LPGA last week. "Some prefer staying with family, some may not be comfortable with the food in other countries. Everyone will be able to develop their interest when they feel comfortable with the environment." Sorenstam, who was the first woman to take on the top men since 1945 when she played at the Bank of America Colonial PGA tournament five years ago, said Chinese players must go abroad if they want to succeed. "In 2003, when I became the first women to play in a men's event, I wasn't doing it to compare men with women," she said. "The experience and challenge gained from playing against the men helped me for the rest of my career." |
