Li stays on track for maiden Badminton world crown

Chinese world number one Li Xuerui remained on course for a first world championship title after beating India's Saina Nehwal on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles in Copenhagen.
Top-ranked Li, runner-up at the world championship a year ago, established control early on against seventh seeded Nehwal and came through 21-15, 21-15 to move a step closer to adding to the Olympic crown she won at London 2012.
"The first set was pretty comfortable. In the second set some of my tactics weren't well executed and that allowed Saina to get close, but I eventually adjusted and pulled (the victory) off," said the 23-year-old, who will face Japan's Minatsu Mitani for a shot at the title.
On Wednesday Nehwal had sparked a war of words by calling for the sport's governing body, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), to reduce the number of entrants per country at international tournaments to curb China's dominance.
Li, one of two remaining Chinese representatives in the women's draw from an initial four, let her performance do the talking for the most part on Friday before the topic again resurfaced in Denmark.
"There are good players from many countries. Too many restrictions is not good for the sport. It would not be fair for the Chinese players who put in all the effort and training," said Li.
Mitani, the 16th seed, caused another upset as she rallied once more to edge South Korean fifth seed Sung Ji-hyun 9-21, 21-18, 22-20.
On Thursday, Mitani claimed the scalp of Thailand's defending champion Ratchanok Intanon and again she recovered from a dreadful start to outlast Sung in another enthralling battle that lasted over an hour.
Men's fifth Tommy Sugiarto was made to work extremely hard to see off 37th-ranked Dutchman Eric Pang as the Indonesian reached the last four for the first time courtesy of a 22-20, 21-19 win.
"I tried to be calm, I tried to boost my confidence," said Sugiarto, who was forced to save a set point in the first game as he struggled to cope against a much-taller opponent.
The 26-year-old is aiming to emulate his father, Icuk, who won the world title in Copenhagen in 1983.
"Even though I have reached the first target, the journey is not finished. The opponent tomorrow (Saturday) will be much harder," said Sugiarto, who is set to face either Chinese world number two Chen Long or seventh seed Son Wan-ho of South Korea for a place in Sunday's final.
Source: AFP