WORLD number two Qiao Hong of China lived up to her top billing when she defeated Taiwan's Chen Jing in four sets in the final of the Agfa Asian All Stars women's tournament at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium last night.
Qiao, the Olympic gold medallist in the women's doubles with Deng Yaping, bounced back from a one-set deficit to beat left-handed Chen, the number two seed, 15-21, 21-16, 21-8, 21-11 in front of a half-empty stadium.
Qiao had disposed of Hong Kong's Chai Po-wa in the semi-finals and she stepped up her game with her marvellous repertoire of shots to comfortably beat Chen, last year's World Championship runner-up.
The 24-year-old Chinese, who also won the Olympic silver medallist in singles, said her victory was some consolation for her disappointment in knowing that Beijing had lost their bid to host the 2000 Olympics.
''This victory makes up some of the disappointment. It would have been great if we had won the bid as well. But you can't win them all,'' said Qiao who won US$5,400 prize money.
''Chen played well in the first set but I think she got nervous and made mistakes,'' she said.