Zhang Beiwen is getting by just fine (financially) as she reaches semi-finals of badminton’s Hong Kong Open
- The 29-year-old mainland-born shuttler laughed off her Crowdfunding experience when she was short of cash
- The American reaches her first World Tour 500 last four of the year by defeating Indonesia’s Hartawan
Zhang Beiwen knows it’s not easy travelling the globe as a badminton star from the United States even though she’s ranked in the world’s top 20 in women’s singles.
Representing a country that doesn’t consider the sport a popular past-time with very limited resources and funding, the mainland-born shuttler has not been having it easy trying to play and compete against the world’s best.
Last year, she needed funds so she could compete at the world championships and she turned to crowdfunding to raise enough cash to go to Nanjing for the prestigious event.
Zhang laughed off her crowdfunding experience as the American number one stormed into the women’s singles semi-finals at the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open at the Coliseum on Friday.
“That was a unique occasion and fortunately I don’t have to go through it again this year,” said the 29-year-old, who defeated Ruselli Hartawan of Indonesia 21-17, 21-17 to reach her first World Tour 500 tournament last four of the year.