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SCMP Reporter

Name: Xie Xingfang
Date of birth: January 8, 1981, in Guangzhou

Olympic entry: Women's badminton

Career highlights: team gold, 2006 Asian Games; World singles champion, 2005, 2006

The Chinese have won the past two Olympic women's singles golds, and if they are to land a hat-trick this summer, they will pin their hopes on Xie Xingfang, the star from Guangdong.

A young Xie failed to make the three-member squad in Athens four years ago when compatriot Zhang Ning, at the age of 29, was crowned champion after she overcame Mia Audina, of the Netherlands, in a thrilling final.

Now 27, Xie has had sufficient international exposure to be a top contender for the title.

China will be the only country to send three women's singles players to Beijing as they occupy the top four positions in the world rankings.

 Xie has never hidden her gold-medal intentions, claiming her sole aim is to stand on top of the podium and hear the applause of the home crowd.

Shortly after her Athens disappointment, Xie began her long battle to book her place at the Beijing Games.

And she proved she meant business by clinching six titles in a row - from the Denmark Open in October 2004 to the All England Championships in March 2005.

Xie won her first world championship in 2005 and successfully defended the title in Madrid a year later.

Also in 2006, she retained her All England singles title and made it three in a row the next year.

But, after achieving so much, Xie's hunger for success seemed to wane early this year.

Troubled by a back injury, she withdrew from Super Series events in January, then was beaten by Hong Kong's Yip Pui-yin in the opening round of the All England Championships in March.

However, China coach Li Yongbo defended Xie, saying a hectic Olympic qualifying schedule had taken its toll on his star player.

And Xie was quick to silence her critics as she clinched the Swiss Super Series in late March - the last Super Series event before the completion of the Olympic qualifiers in April.

It was also the 14th time that Xie and her sweetheart - men's world number one Lin Dan - had won their respective titles in the same tournament. 

'I am very happy with my form,' said Xie after she won the Swiss title. 'There is still some time before the Olympics and I am confident I can use this period to find the right path leading to the gold medal.'

Allan Budi Kusuma and his girlfriend Susi Susanti (now wife) won the men's and women's singles titles for Indonesia at the 1992 Barcelona Games - the first time badminton was introduced as an Olympic medal sport.

It will be interesting to see if Xie and Lin can repeat the love match 16 years later.




No 8: Xie Xingfang