Wang Shixian lifts first All England crown

World number one Wang Shixian of China won her first All England women's singles crown on Sunday, battling past brave Japanese Eriko Hirose 24-22 21-18. Unseeded Hirose was the first Japanese to reach the final since 1979 and fought all the way but Wang proved too strong despite a troublesome ankle.
The Chinese told reporters: "The last few points were very crucial and if I had lost and had to play a third game it would have been very difficult." Hirose, acutely conscious of the devastating tsunami at home, told reporters: "I'm sad not to have won to try to give a boost to Japanese people back home.
"But I'm happy to have been part of a good match and I got a lot of support from the crowd."