Taiwan badminton players recorded the best performance ever in a major international tournament hosted by the island by taking the top prize for women’s singles event plus a gold medal in men’s doubles.
Cheng Shao-chieh captured the women’s singles title by beating Bae Seung Hee from Korea 17-21, 21-12, 21-15 to win the first prize in the Yonex Open Chinese Taipei 2009, commonly known as Taipei Badminton Open.
Cheng’s best past performance was fighting into the final eight in the 2004 tournament.
The best past showing of Taiwan athletes in this competitive event was a second-place finish by Chiu Yi-ju in 2004.
The petite Cheng once toyed with the idea of abandoning active competition after a lackluster performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
But in a strong comeback, she had to win eight rounds in a row to get to the championship in the badminton open this year.
Speaking with excitement, Cheng said to reporters that her ordeal proved that the opportunity is always left for those who are ready and those who never quit.
In men’s doubles event, Chen Hong-lin and Lin Yu-lang of Taiwan overpowered the strong team of Wong Wai-hong and Yohan Handikusuma from Hong Kong 14-21, 21-12, 21-19 in the finals.
Garnering two gold medals in women’s singles and men’s doubles was the best performance of badminton players from Taiwan in the international tournament, said an official of the badminton association here.
