Tennis: China rewards Li for French Open win

Li has been honoured by her government and awarded $92,000.

BEIJING: Li Na, who made tennis history at this year’s French Open by becoming the first Chinese Grand Slam singles title winner, has been honoured by her government and awarded $92,000. The government in Li’s native Hubei province saluted the 29-year-old as a pioneer and handed her 600,000 yuan for her victory at Roland Garros last month, where she defeated Francesca Schiavone for the title. “I truly feel that my success belongs not to myself but to the country,” said Li.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.