Proton Malaysia Open 2010

Date: 24-Jan-2010

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND ASIAD NEXT FOR DU JING AND YU YANG

KUALA LUMPUR (24 Jan 2010) - After grabbing their first title in 2010 by winning the women's doubles in the Proton Malaysia Open Super Series this afternoon, Chinese pair Du Jing and Yu Yang are aiming for the World Championship and the Asian Games gold medal next.

Yu Yang said after their straight set 21-11, 21-11 win over compatriots Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli in just under 40 minutes that their target for 2010 would be the Asian Championship in Paris and the Asian Games in China.

"We have already won the Super Series and also the Olympic Gold (in 2008 in Beijing), so our target would be to win the Asian Championship and also the Asian Games to complete our medal haul," said Yu Yang.

"Today, we were playing against our juniors, so there was no pressure whatsoever. It was more of an exhibition match as whichever pair win, the championship is still with China.

"We hope after this win, we can make the breakthrough in the World Championship and also the Asiad later in the year."

Since forming their partnership in 2004, Du Jing and Yu Yang have won the 2008 Olympics gold in Beijing, the Polish Open (2004), the China Masters (2005), the Asian Championships and Swiss Open in 2006, the Russian, Hong Kong, and Indonesia Open in 2007 and the French, Korea and Singapore Opens in 2008.

Their best finish at the World Championships was the bronze medal in 2006.

In the meantime, there was no tinge of exasperation on the part of Ma Jin and Xiaoli, who had to settle for the second spot.

Xiaoli said after the final that the pair are still not as good as their seniors and that they still have some way to go yet to match their prowess.

"We still need some work on the combination play and also understanding. These are the finer points but it can make the difference between first and second," added Xiaoli.

"For us, the target is the same as Du Jing and Yu Yang - which is the World Championship and also the ASIAD."