Beauty is a fickle concept, says level-headed Xie

DOHA, Dec 2 (Reuters) She is one half of China's most glamorous couple and is known by the nickname of ''Beauty'', but do not expect Xie Xingfang's head to be turned by such flattery.

The no-nonsense badminton champion, girlfriend of China's world number one shuttler Lin Dan, takes all the adulation she receives with a healthy pinch of salt.

''If you play well, people will think you are pretty,'' the 25-year-old said today, shrugging off comments she was the prettiest player on China's Asian Games team.

''If you don't play well, people won't think that.'' If Xie's analysis is correct, on recent form her beauty is dazzling.

Xie, whose interests include singing and shopping, in September became the first woman to successfully defend the world championships title since China's Ye Zhaoying in 1995 and 1997.

Victory at that Madrid championships, where boyfriend Lin also triumphed, was savoured only briefly before she turned her attention to the December. 1-15 Asian Games.

Today, the world number two squashed Indonesia's Adriyanti Firdasari 2-0 in a team competition match lasting just 20 minutes -- 10 for each set.

''I haven't woken up yet, I am still half asleep,'' she said after the 9am start.

On current form there are few able to give her a wake-up call.

REUTERS PDS RK2108