China's former world number one Xie Xingfang announced on Friday that she will retire from badminton after next month's Chinese National Games.
Former champion Taufik Hidayat halted Danish youngster Jan O Jorgensen's giant-killing run 21-19, 21-19 to enter the semi-finals of the World Badminton Championships on Friday. In the women's draw, world number one Zhou Mi of Hong Kong was toppled 21-15, 21-18 by Chinese fifth seed Xie Xingfang.
World champion Zhu Lin will not be able to defend her title in India this August after being left out of the China squad for the badminton World Championships, local media reported on Tuesday. Olympic silver medallist and former world champion Xie Xingfang will lead China's team for the women's singles, which also includes All England champion Wang Yihan, China's highest ranked player Wang Lin and Lu Lan.
National champion Saina Nehwal tried every trick in her book but failed to get the better of top seeded Chinese Xie Xingfang in the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Friday. The Indian ace lost 16-21, 17-21.
Holders China eased into the final of the Uber Cup women's team tournament with a 3-1 semi-final win over South Korea on Thursday. The Chinese, seeking a sixth Uber Cup crown in succession, will play hosts Indonesia in Saturday's final after the Indonesians beat Germany, also 3-1.