Wang Zhi Yi: Triumph of Tenacity
Finally, after six consecutive runner-up finishes, Wang Zhi Yi could revel in the euphoria of a title.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The win carried more than the significance of a title at the YONEX ALL England; what made it even more special for the Chinese was that she had finally managed to break through the shackles An Se Young had imposed on her.
Heading to the All England, she’d lost 10 straight matches to the Korean – all of them in finals. The recent ones were mostly onesided; her last close match with An was at last year’s All England, when she was headed to victory in the second game before An turned it around at the end. The relentlessness of the Korean – her refusal to give in; her impenetrability in defence and her offensive weapons had proved too hard for Wang to break through.
Wang's run-up to the All England had been less than ideal, for she’d lost the German Open final to her junior compatriot Han Qian Xi. It didn’t derail her quest in Birmingham.