Xie Xingfang of China has decided to retire.

 Friday September 4, 2009  - Chinese shuttler, and former number one ranked, Xie Xingfang of China has decided to retire. "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 the Guangzhou Daily.  Xie had won the world championships in 2005 and 2006 and an Olympic silver medal in 2008, among many other accolades.  National coach Li Yongbo said, " Xie is veteran player and s

he was a good role model for a young team.  She had done everything she could, so she chose to retire from international competition after the World Championships."
 
The 28 year old will take to the court for the last time at the Chinese National Games in October.  Her boyfriend, world champion, Lin Dan feels she will devote herself to the sport in another capacity.
 
Xie is currently ranked sixth in the world, and won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships.
 

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