Badminton - Li Li quits national squad

**Voodoo Vince** · 31-01-2008, 10:09 AM

Badminton - Li Li quits national squad
By Jeanette Wang

SINGAPORE'S top woman shuttler, Li Li, has thrown in the towel for good.

A Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) official yesterday confirmed with The Straits Times that the 24-year-old player tendered her resignation from the national team 'late last week'.

Said the official: 'Li Li cited personal reasons. The SBA respected her decision and has accepted her resignation.

'But, if she finds her desire for active competition again, the door is always open.'

Yesterday morning, Li Li returned to her native Wuhan in China's Hubei province to spend Chinese New Year with her parents. She could not be reached for comment.

Zhang Qingwu, who had coached the shuttler to her biggest win - the 2002 Commonwealth Games title - was surprised when told of the news.

He said: 'With the Olympics coming up this year, she had no reason to quit.'

Li Li, the world No 27, was on course to qualify for one of the 38 berths at August's Beijing Games.

She was part of Project 0812, the Singapore National Olympic Council initiative launched last January with the goal of clinching the Republic an Olympic medal at the 2008 or 2012 Games.

The project is armed with a war chest of about $7 million and comprises athletes from sailing, table tennis, shooting and badminton, including Ronald Susilo and Li Yujia.

No doubt, Li Li's resignation is a loss to the SBA.

She was an integral member of the gold medal-winning women's team at the 2003 South-east Asia Games and the 2006 Asian Games runner-up team.

But the SBA official added: 'When the player really feels tired and needs a break, continuing is not something you can force her to do. We wish her good luck and we hope she has a good break.'

Known for possessing the heart of a lion within a pint-sized 1.60 m frame, Li Li came to Singapore in late 1997 and received citizenship in 2002.

She rose to prominence after stunning home favourite Tracey Hallam of England in the 2002 Commonwealth Games final in Manchester. It was the Republic's first Commonwealth Games badminton gold.

But, since then, the Singapore Sports Council Hall of Famer has been plagued with knee injuries and has struggled to find her form.

At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, she made an early exit after falling to India's Aparna Popat in the round of 16.

Her most recent tournament was the Malaysia Open Super Series a fortnight ago, where she crashed out in the opening round.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_201893.html

**djchris** · 31-01-2008, 10:13 AM

This is what happen when you try to use taxpayers money to buy medals. You can never buy loyalty.

Delardino · 31-01-2008, 10:56 AM

Earn enough money here time to return lor, but she is quite good eh, better then the locals for sure =X

**Voodoo Vince** · 31-01-2008, 11:41 AM

Wait, she return to play for China.

**Jason Ang** · 31-01-2008, 11:48 AM

why alway hire foreign talent wat about our home grown talent

Delardino · 31-01-2008, 12:16 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Voodoo Vince
	Wait, she return to play for China.

Nah, she won't get into the china's badminton squad, if not she won't come to S'pore liao.

**lai** · 31-01-2008, 02:03 PM

shd wait after 2008 bejing olympics then resign mah, got chance to play at highest level.

31-01-2008, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Voodoo Vince Malaysian Kampung Boy Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,005 iTrader: (0) My Mood: Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: Hougang SGC$: 18,110.60 Bank: 0.00 Total SGC$: 18,110.60	Badminton - Li Li quits national squad Badminton - Li Li quits national squad By Jeanette Wang SINGAPORE'S top woman shuttler, Li Li, has thrown in the towel for good. A Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) official yesterday confirmed with The Straits Times that the 24-year-old player tendered her resignation from the national team 'late last week'. Said the official: 'Li Li cited personal reasons. The SBA respected her decision and has accepted her resignation. 'But, if she finds her desire for active competition again, the door is always open.' Yesterday morning, Li Li returned to her native Wuhan in China's Hubei province to spend Chinese New Year with her parents. She could not be reached for comment. Zhang Qingwu, who had coached the shuttler to her biggest win - the 2002 Commonwealth Games title - was surprised when told of the news. He said: 'With the Olympics coming up this year, she had no reason to quit.' Li Li, the world No 27, was on course to qualify for one of the 38 berths at August's Beijing Games. She was part of Project 0812, the Singapore National Olympic Council initiative launched last January with the goal of clinching the Republic an Olympic medal at the 2008 or 2012 Games. The project is armed with a war chest of about $7 million and comprises athletes from sailing, table tennis, shooting and badminton, including Ronald Susilo and Li Yujia. No doubt, Li Li's resignation is a loss to the SBA. She was an integral member of the gold medal-winning women's team at the 2003 South-east Asia Games and the 2006 Asian Games runner-up team. But the SBA official added: 'When the player really feels tired and needs a break, continuing is not something you can force her to do. We wish her good luck and we hope she has a good break.' Known for possessing the heart of a lion within a pint-sized 1.60 m frame, Li Li came to Singapore in late 1997 and received citizenship in 2002. She rose to prominence after stunning home favourite Tracey Hallam of England in the 2002 Commonwealth Games final in Manchester. It was the Republic's first Commonwealth Games badminton gold. But, since then, the Singapore Sports Council Hall of Famer has been plagued with knee injuries and has struggled to find her form. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, she made an early exit after falling to India's Aparna Popat in the round of 16. Her most recent tournament was the Malaysia Open Super Series a fortnight ago, where she crashed out in the opening round. http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_201893.html To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

31-01-2008, 10:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
djchris Experienced SGClubber Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,996 iTrader: (0) Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: Singapore SGC$: 1,472.52 Bank: 0.00 Total SGC$: 1,472.52	Re: Badminton - Li Li quits national squad This is what happen when you try to use taxpayers money to buy medals. You can never buy loyalty. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. : Asia Solution Kenetics Visit us at: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. . Our Non-Profit Initiatives To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Personal Links To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

31-01-2008, 10:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Delardino genius at wørk Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,580 iTrader: (0) My Mood: Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: Bukit Purmei SGC$: 4.60 Bank: 1,344.58 Total SGC$: 1,349.18	Re: Badminton - Li Li quits national squad Earn enough money here time to return lor, but she is quite good eh, better then the locals for sure =X To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

31-01-2008, 11:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Voodoo Vince Malaysian Kampung Boy Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,005 iTrader: (0) My Mood: Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: Hougang SGC$: 18,110.60 Bank: 0.00 Total SGC$: 18,110.60	Re: Badminton - Li Li quits national squad Wait, she return to play for China. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

31-01-2008, 11:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jason Ang X-man Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 158 iTrader: (0) Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: Singapore SGC$: 181.00 Bank: 0.00 Total SGC$: 181.00	Re: Badminton - Li Li quits national squad why alway hire foreign talent wat about our home grown talent

31-01-2008, 02:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
lai ah lai Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 489 iTrader: (0) My Mood: Gender: Zodiac Sign: Country: Location: upper boon keng SGC$: 541.95 Bank: 0.00 Total SGC$: 541.95	Re: Badminton - Li Li quits national squad shd wait after 2008 bejing olympics then resign mah, got chance to play at highest level.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Spider-Man and his wife of 20 years have called it quits	Voodoo Vince	Foreign Affairs	3	17-01-2008 10:25 PM
The Firing Squad	janice	Laugh Out Loud	4	30-08-2007 04:00 PM
The Firing Squad	DINEy	Laugh Out Loud	10	15-07-2007 05:01 AM
Taiwan's rep to S'pore quits, citing differences with DPP	genzo2106	Local Affairs	1	02-07-2007 11:47 AM
Suicide Bomber Squad	P3rSeUs	Laugh Out Loud	14	26-04-2007 09:43 PM