Li defeats world champ, but Canada falls to Spain in badminton
Canada lost to Spain 3-2 in the Sudirman Cup, but the badminton world was in awe of Canadian star Michelle Li as she came from behind to beat World Champion Carolina Marin in their singles encounter.
Li lost the first game to Marin, who had a 16-13 lead in the second. Li came from behind to match the power and speed of Marin, launching both players into a flurry of fast paced rallies. Poised under pressure, Li fought on to capture the game and then the decider in a surprising 12-21, 27-25, 24-22 victory.
Michelle Li with her Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal on August 3, 2014.
In August 2014, Marin became the first Spaniard to win a BWF World title, defeating Li Xuerui from China. Currently ranked third in the world, 21-year old Marin’s impressive career highlights include a Grand Prix gold in London in 2013 and a European title in 2014.
Markham, Ontario’s Michelle Li is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in both singles and doubles. Currently ranked 16th in the world in the singles circuit, Li said of the Marin upset “this has to be one of my best performances, after my Commonwealth Games victory.”
In women’s doubles, Canada’s Alex Bruce and Phyllis Chan faced Marin and Beatriz Corrales. The Canadians won the first game but fell short to the Spaniards losing 17-21, 21-17, 21-13. On the strength of men’s singles and mixed doubles, Spain took it 3-2 despite Li and a men’s doubles win for Canada.
RELATED: Fastest moving objects in sports | Badminton’s new frontier
