Turning her loss on Saturday around, Chen Jing (陳靜) yesterday beat Singapore's Jing Jun Hong (
The first set between Chen and Jing was a close one with Jing winning 21-18. Chen gave away eight points in the match because of unforced errors and at first appeared visibly shaken. Chen is currently ranked third in the world, while Jing is ranked 23rd.
"In the first game I missed a few good opportunities and that disrupted my strategy and rhythm. She [Jing] attacked harder than she normally would and I was standing too far away from the table to counter attack," Chen said after the match. "I made several errors and became frustrated."
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
But after the first set, Chen started playing more aggressively, using fast play and hard smashes to put Jing off her rhythm. Chen dominated in the three sets that followed, winning 21-14, 21-15, 21-10. In the third set Chen racked up 12 points because of Jing's bobbles.
Yesterday's medal was Chen's third in Olympic competition. Chen won the gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, at the time competing for China. She moved to Taiwan in 1991 and competed in the 1996 Olympics, winning a silver in women's singles.
"The first time I was young and full of confidence. I knew I could win because I was representing China and I was technically the best. This time I wanted to challenge myself because these are the `Games of the new millennium.' I was confident with my technique this time. It seems that physically I'm still comparable to those playing now. But if I had won yesterday, that would have been even better," she said, when asked how she felt about winning her third Olympic medal.
Coming to Taiwan has had its challenges, Chen said yesterday, comparing the training conditions in both countries.
"I don't have as many training partners now for me to practice all the styles," Chen said.
When asked whether she would come back again in four years to try and win another Olympic medal in Athens, Chen said: "I don't know, I'll have to ask God."
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