BY RAJES PAUL
Spain's Carolina Marin after winning the women's singles world championships title in Denmark on Sunday, She beat China's Li Xuerui in three sets. - AFP
COPENHAGEN: If not for badminton, Carolina Marin of Spain would have been a professional dancer.
Thank goodness she chose badminton.
On Sunday, she caused the biggest upset in the World Championships when she danced her way to the women’s singles title.
The cool 22-year-old broke the rhythm of Olympic Games champion Li Xuerui of China with a superb 17-21, 21-17, 21-18 win at the Bellarup Super Arena to become the first Spaniard-ever to win a badminton world title.
She is the second European to win the world title in 15 years, after Denmark’s Camilla Martin had pulled off the same feat – also in Copenhagen – in 1999.
The defeat was a second blow to the 23-year-old Xuerui, who lost to Thai youngster Ratchanok Intanon in last year’s final.
Marin, who underwent three weeks of training at former world champion Ratchanok’s club in Bangkok, was pleased as punch with her impressive breakthrough.
“I do not have words to express my joy right now ... it is fantastic to win the world title for the first time,” said Marin.
“My goal was to win a gold medal and, in order to do that, I had to fight ... and I fought till the end.”
It, however, did not start too well for Marin when top seed Xuerui stamped her mark to take the opener and lead the second 10-5.
That was when Carolina upped the tempo.
“I knew I had to change the game plan. Xuerui was so good at the net and I needed to keep her away from it ... so I kept pushing the shuttle to the back. I tried to minimise my mistakes and I finally pulled it off,” explained Marin, who was sprawled on the court and crying tears of joy after the historic win.
“I’m based in Spain and I want to thank my team for the support. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. The three-week training at Ratchanok’s club also helped.”
While Marin was overjoyed, Xuerui was left to ponder another missed chance at becoming a world champion.
But the Chinese ace vowed that she would rise from the defeat and be ready for the Asian Games in Incheon.
“It is disappointing to lose to a foreign player for two straight years. My opponent was very powerful today. I became tense towards the end. I should have persisted but I failed,” said Xuerui, who was also slightly troubled by an ankle pain.
“This (the defeat) will not dampen my spirits. I will continue to do what I do best and come back a much "