ALL ENGLAND 2016 QF – Another Xue-rprise from new star

China’s youngest singles quarter-finalist Xue Song continued to surprise the crowd in Barclaycard Arena Birmingham, this time beating world #6 Viktor Axelsen.

By Naomi Indartiningrum, Badzine Correspondent live in Birmingham.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

After send home his best friend yesterday, today Xue Song (pictured) made another young star to leave the arena. Xue, who had made his first mark internationally by upsetting Viktor Axelsen en route to the final of the 2012 World Junior Championships, beat the Dane on Friday, this time to gain entrance to his first ever semi-final at a Supeseries Premier event.

“The win was about being patient and having the right mentality, which was vital today. If I played too quick, he tried to slow me down so it was really tough. I’d prepared a lot but it was always going to be hard and thankfully I came out the winner,” said Xue.

This 22-year-old shuttler actually had a chance to finish the match with straight games but was unable to make it. Viktor really tried his best and forced Xue to save 7 match points before the Dane finally took the 8th and send the match to a decider.

“There was a fault but they happen all the time.  You just have to deal with it. The important thing was to focus on the next point and tell myself it won’t determine the outcome of  the match,” Xue added.

Xue is not alone in the semi-finals.  Two of his team-mates, Lin Dan and Tian Houwei also made their path continue to Saturday’s semi-final round. Lin Dan proceeds after beating Jan O Jorgensen 10-21, 21-9, 21-15 while Tian Houwei won against Superseries Finals winner Kento Momota.

In contrast to Chinese fortunes, Denmark sent only one of three quarter-finalists through to the final four.  Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (pictured) saved two match points to beat Marc Zwiebler and earn the right to face Tian on Saturday.

Marin on the way to defend the title

In women’s singles, it was a classical battle between Carolina Marin (pictured) and Ratchanok Intanon (pictured below). They’d met for four times before this match but Marin had never won any of those encounters. Finally, Marin took her first win against Intanon in her 5th attempt, sending the former 2013 World Champion packing after struggling in straight games.

“It was a very difficult match but I thought I played really well. Me and my coaching team worked really hard in training preparing or this match and I was able to execute my team’s strategy perfectly,” said the 2015 World Champion.

“It was a great feeling. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for me today and she put me under real pressure in the second game. But I remained calm and tried to enjoy the moment, focus on keeping my game simple, and was able to pounce on some of the mistakes that she was making,” add the All England defending champion.

Next up, the Spaniard faces Nozomi Okuhara, who beat her twice in Dubai.  The Japanese world #8 advanced by scoring her third consecutive win over Wang Yihan.  That victory, as well as Wang Shixian’s ousting of 2012 winner Li Xuerui, whittled the Chinese contingent from three down to one, with the fourth semi-final spot going to Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, who beat last year’s runner-up Saina Nehwal in straight games.

With the very competitive field in women’s singles, will Marin able to defend her title again this year?

Click here for complete quarter-final results