Two-time badminton world champion Xie to retire next month

China's former world number one Xie Xingfang announced on Friday that she will retire from badminton after next month's Chinese National Games.

Xie, who has been in the badminton circuit for over a decade, was initially a reluctant badminton player, but after being spotted by national team coach Li Yongbo, she grew into one of the dominant women's players of the last five years along with team mate Zhang Ning.

"Last year, I made the decision to retire after the National Games but did not make it public because I didn't want it to be blown out of proportion," she told Friday's Guangzhou Daily.

The 28-year-old won her first big title in a girl's doubles, with her provincial team mate Zhang Jiewen, at the World Junior Championships in 1998. But once she entered the Chinese national team, she switched to singles.

This decision proved to be the most fruitful and paid her rich dividends. 2004 was her 'break-out' year as she won a raft of regional and team honours and several top tier titles on the world circuit. But her biggest claim to fame came when she won world titles in 2005 and 2006 and later an Olympic silver medal in 2008.

Unfortunately, her dream of capturing gold on home soil at last year's Olympics was dashed by Zhang in the final and many thought that she would call it quits last August.

Xie is girlfriend of Olympic and world champion Lin 'Super' Dan. Xie joked that Dan would not let her just rest on her considerable collection of laurels after her retirement.

"Lin Dan respects my decision, but he can't tolerate that I will have so much leisure time. He said he has to find me a job," she told Friday's Guangzhou Daily.

Xie had already played her last match for her country at last month's world championships in India, but coach Li hinted that she might return to the game in another capacity.

"Xie has proved she is one of the best players in the world," he told the China Daily.

"We respect her decision. The October National Games are likely to be her last tournament. I believe she will continue to devote herself to the sport in a different way."