Wang Yihan: China's next badminton superstar
The Chinese press is buzzing about Wang Yihan the women's singles winner of last week's Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open Badminton Super Series 2009. The pressure is on for the fresh-faced 21-year-old who is touted as China's next sports superstar.
Currently placed at world number one, Wang Yihan is vying to become on par with Olympic gold hurdler Liu Xiang and NBA basketballer Yao Ming when it comes to the Hot Chinese Atheletes Index. Incidentally, all three are from Shanghai.
“There are many famous sportsmen from Shanghai, but we don't have many female stars. I will work hard, hoping one day to achieve the same status as them," Wang reportedly said to the South China Morning Post (subscription only).
But does Wang Yihan cut it as sportstar eye-candy? Check out our photo gallery to the left and decide for yourselves.
Other Asian headliners at the Hong Kong Open was men’s singles winner, world number one, Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia, who ended his two-month hiatus by beating Danish Peter Gade. China’s Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli took home the trophy for women's doubles final.
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