Shi Yuqi of China reacts during the Men's Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
HANGZHOU, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese rising star Li Shifeng defeated Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia to reach the men's singles semifinals on Thursday, while women's world No. 1 An Se-young of South Korea also secured a last-four berth at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
23-year-old Li ousted top-seeded Ginting 21-13, 21-17 in 54 minutes, ending his winless streak against the Indonesian ace.
"To be honest, I'm nervous on the court," said Li, who celebrated the victory with a signature flip to light up the arena.
"In such a fierce match, so many spectators cheer for the Chinese players, which gives me energy," Li stated.
The world No. 8 will contend for a final spot with India's Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar, who eliminated Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in full games.
"Of course I want to be on the top podium. But I will prepare for what's right now first."
"After all, I've never beaten Prannoy either," Li said.
Making his Asian Games debut, Li has not dropped one game in the team and singles events so far, and he is widely considered the title favorite.
The other men's singles semifinal will pit China's Shi Yuqi against Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
Newly-crowned world champion An stormed into the semifinal by thrashing Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand 21-12, 21-13 in under 45 minutes.
An showed her dominance as she triumphed in both of the previous two rounds in about 20 minutes.
The 21-year-old will take on China's He Bingjiao, who knocked out Indian star player Pusarla V. Sindhu in straight games.
Also on Thursday, Olympic champion Chen Yufei defeated Kim Ga-eun of South Korea 21-17, 17-21, 21-15, and will meet Japanese contender Aya Ohori in the semifinal.
In the mixed doubles, Chinese duo Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong crushed their Malaysian opponents Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-14, 23-21, while men's and women's doubles favorites Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty of India and Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan of China both advanced into semis with straight-game victories.
The semifinals of five categories will take place on Friday and gold medals will be awarded on Saturday. ■
Aaron Chia Teng Fong (L) /Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia compete during Men's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Malaysia at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
(231005) -- HANGZHOU, Oct. 5, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yufei of China hits a return during the Women's Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
(231005) -- HANGZHOU, Oct. 5, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Kim Gaeun of South Korea hits a return during the Women's Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
Fukushima Yuki (R) and Hirota Sayaka of Japan compete during Women's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
Liu Yuchen(L)/Ou Xuanyi of China compete during Men's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Malaysia at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
Liu Yuchen (L)/Ou Xuanyi of China compete during Men's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Malaysia at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
Aaron Chia Teng Fong (L) /Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia compete during Men's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Malaysia at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
Zheng Yu (L)/ Zhang Shuxian of China celebrate scoring during Women's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
Zheng Yu (L)/ Zhang Shuxian of China celebrate scoring during Women's Doubles Quarterfinal of Badminton between China and Japan at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)
