China's world badminton champion Zhou Mi will try to work her way through to the Beijing Olympics despite making a humiliating early exit from the Badminton Super Series Singapore Open 2007.

The 27-year-old Zhou, the bronze medallist at the Athens Olympic Games, told the official website of the Singapore Open that she does not rule out the possibility of competing in the Olympics again.

"There is no such thing as impossible. At least I will try and I definitely do not want to live my life regretting over not trying," said Zhou, who retired from the Chinese national team in 2006 due to long-time knee injuries.

"I love badminton. Badminton is my hobby and my life. I don't want to live my life with regret for not fulfilling my dream.

"I believe it is the same for all athletes, every one of us goes on playing the game because of our passion to pursue the sport."

Zhou was imported into Hong Kong, China, around the New Year's Day this year based on the Top Talent Importing Program and has trained with the region's badminton team for four months.

"It's a new beginning for me as a player as I am representing Hong Kong now after leaving the competitive arena for almost two years."

Zhou, without regular training in the past two years, squeezed her way through three rounds of qualifying matches only to lose on Wednesday to France's defendign champion Pi Hongyan in the opening round of the main draw at the ongoing Singapore Open, an event serving as a qualification for next year's Beijing Olympics.

However, Li Yongbo, head coach of the China national badminton team, affirmed early this year that it was impossible for Zhou to play for the region, according to the rule of World Badminton Federatin (BWF) that one could only play for another country or region after he or she is out of the previous team for two years.

"The relationship is OK for me and my former teammates and coaches," she said of the Team China. "Coach Li Yongbo released me from the team. Therefore, I left the team with permission and after that I joined Hong Kong under the talent program.

"As an independent player I do have the right to go anywhere I want to go without consulting anybody. It will be very strange if I contact Li and consult him regarding my moving to Hong Kong because he might have said that I am no longer part of the national team."

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2007)