China contingent in fearsome form for women’s tennis

Doha, Dec 05: Asia's No one women player Li Na has exuded confidence of finishing at the medal podium.

''Hopefully I will play my best tennis and win a medal. I played in Doha earlier this year and reached the quarterfinals. I hope to do better now,'' said the 23-year-old, who beat Russian Vera Zvonareva and Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in Doha last March but lost to the eventual champion Nadia Petrova of Russia.

''I have played the whole year and this will be the last tournament. The Asian Games are held once every four years and that makes it very exciting.''

Li leads a dream Asiad Chinese squad which also includes Asian number two and grand slam doubles winner Zheng Jie, rising star Peng Shuai, Zheng's doubles partner Yan Zi, and Olympic champions Li Ting/Sun Tiantian.

Bureau Report