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| Li Na Celebrating her win over Venus Williams in 2008 Beijing Olympics Women's Quarter final. Image : Xinhua/Wang Yuguo via xinhuanet.com |
She would be carried shoulder high, hoisted politician style on a top- of-the- range four wheeler, she would occupy herself with waving to fans as the vehicle caravan slowly snakes through city streets on the journey to her rural home
Once the long caravan- replete with Matatus full of singing folks from the village who had made the several hour journey to the airport to welcome home the world beater- nears the precincts of her home town, 'her people' would join the parade and in a slow march of jubilant dance she would be lead to the awaiting feast: A tented affair in an open field complete with a shaded raised dais for the Mheshimiwas-VIPs.
The oxygen thin air of higher altitudes would be thick with the aroma of Nyama Choma –meat roasted over open fire- courtesy of the scores of slaughtered bulls, sheep and goats. The village feasts and fetes their all achieving daughter. The bigger the feat, the bigger the feast.
Speeches. Tearful parents, proud coaches and once again the rot of a politician ridding on the moment. Bellies full with Pilau- a Swahili coastal spiced rice and meat delicacy- minds planted with dreams and hearts full of joy. A beautiful day. A historic moment shared and witnessed by all.
Highly unlikely though that the feted athlete would be a tennis star in this part of the urban global village . A middle-long distance runner perhaps. Even more unlikely that this jubilant affair- most recently accorded to 2010 IAAF Male Athlete of The Year David Rudisha following his Usain Bolt style world record breaking exploits over 800 meters in 2010- awaits Li Na in far off Wuhan, China.
Yes, China is celebrating. Asia celebrates too. Tennis celebrates even more. In Li Na, a beginning timed to perfection. With the 21st Century still in the bud, it is an exciting time as is the case every other 100 years or so. A period with an 'anything can be achieved' mentality.
A new century, a new way of doing things seems to be the overriding mantra: Just ask Pres. Obama and you will understand why just the other day, on the tails of the state visit by his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Pres. Obama in his State of The Union Address bravely urged America to wake up from the slumber. To out-innovate, out-think and basically outmaneuver the likes of China lest the 21st Century is claimed and she joins the list of Fallen Kings.
In many ways, Li Na's triumph over world number 1 Carolina Wozniacki in the Australian Open women semi-final embodies the bright light that the orient east has been so far this 21st Century. The tournament-burdened by the floods that have wrecked parts of Australia affecting harvests in the worlds largest food exporters-represented some welcome news from down under.
When the man expected to bring that bit of cheer, Raphael Nadal, bowed out at the quarter final stage under the double assault of a tender hamstring and compatriot Roger Ferrer, as the Chinese say it almost got as dark as the bottom of a lamp.
Current tennis world number one, Nadal, having claimed 'The Old World Triple' in 2010: Italian Open, French Open and Wimbledon was expected to one better than tennis great Bjorn Borg by laying claim to four major tournaments at the same time.
When 28yr old took to the court in Melbourne Australia few expected the moment ahead. Especially with her loss of the first set to a confident Caroline Wozniacki, who just days earlier had spoke of her fine form, not only warning her rivals but also effectively stating it would take extraordinary effort to beat her. Only the very good had a chance if any.
What chance did Li Na have? The girl who at 9 (one more over the lucky Chinese number) made the switch to tennis from badminton. Her coach at the time advised that her aggression, power, quick reflexes and arm strength would be more lethal in the tennis court. He current coach cum husband, Jiang Shan, snores too much she tells us.
In the high of the proverbial 15 mins of fame, she does that: A dose of humor. A joke that many might find slighting . Yet I am informed, that is the Chinese way. A high A dose of humor to spice life. A people with a funny bone not troubled at laughing at thy self.
Li Na though typifying a humorous people embodied sport. Commenting on the ever evolving monster- doping- writer George Will gets to the heart of sports in the following words : “A society’s recreation is charged with moral significance. Sport - and a society that takes it seriously - would be debased if it did not strictly forbid things that blur the distinction between the triumph of character and the triumph of the chemistry”
Li Na's courage, determination and as she offers; a strong mind is the character that George Will so exalts. Li Na rescued a game that hang on one match point to claim a 3-6 7-5 6-3, victory over a grueling two and a half hours of gripping tennis action in Melbourne. Notwithstanding, the lessons learned over a injury plagued tennis career that begun in 1999, the year Li Na turned pro.
Though she is yet to win the 2011 Australian Open- thanks to the awaiting challenge of Grand Slam final experienced Kim Clijsters- in her triumph, Li Na became the first Chinese/ Oriental Asia woman to reach the finals of a major tennis tournament. A historic match that the host of Chinese and Asian talent she hopes to inspire to the highest levels of the sport should draw inspiration from.
Li Na : Tennis Career Snapshot
Highest World Ranking: : SINGLES- No. 7 as at 31st January 2011
: DOUBLES- No 54 as at 28th August 2006
1999: Turned Professional.
2000: Top player in ITF circuit with 52 wins that year-she currently holds 19 ITF single titles. Li Na capped the success with admission into WTA circuit where Li Na won her first WTA doubles title in June at Tashkent.
2002: April, Dinan, France against Zuzana Ondraskova Li Na losses in what is to be her her last match before a 25 month hiatus. It's unclear if it the two years were spent studying at university, or was occasioned by unnamed health conceern.
2004: Li Na becomes the first Chinese woman to win a WTA event when she triumphs over Martina Sucha- backed by Chinese support- in the September Guangzhou tier III tournament.
2008: Following a rib injury that kept Li Na of the tennis court for close to six months, Li Na returns to win the January 2008 Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts, making this her second out of four career singles WTA titles.
2009: US Open quarter finals losing to the World number 1 Serena Williams 6–4, 6–7(1), 2–6. She had bowed out at the same level in the Grand Slam stage both in 2006 and 2010 at Wimbledon.
