Two Lis Win Trip to GamesFast-improving tennis duo Li Ting and Li Na are guaranteed an Olympic appearance in Sydney with the Chinese tennis team, as they automatically qualify because of their world ranking.They will enjoy the first ever direct Olympic tickets for Chinese tennis players following previous wildcard appearances in their last two games. The two Lis teamed up last year, and soon became China's top female pair. They rocketed from no world ranking to among the world's top 100 on June 10, the day set by the World Tennis Federation as the deadline for reaching Olympic qualifying standard. They are second to last qualifying pair of women's doubles for Olympics. But their ambition is not just limited to taking part in the Olympics. "We are hoping to get the best result ever achieved by the Chinese in the Olympics," said the two teens, 18 and 19 respectively. Yi Jingqian and Chen Li did get to the second round of the Olympics in 1996, thanks to the easiness of playing their injured Australian rivals. According to the rankings, the two Lis are likely to meet the muscular American sisters Venus and Serena Williams, reigning Wimbledon women's doubles champions who have three Grand Slam titles already on their belt. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |