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."