Chinese player Li Shifeng crashes out of badminton World Championships

Li Shifeng of China competes during the men's singles round of 16 match between Li Shifeng of China and Naraoka Kodai of Japan at BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, Aug. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

NEW DELHI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese player Li Shifeng lost a hard-fought three-game match against Japan's Kodai Naraoka in round of 16 of the men's singles event at the badminton World Championships on Thursday.

Li squandered a one-game advantage to go down 13-21, 23-21, 21-11. Defending champion Shi Yuqi and Weng Hongyang were both eliminated in earlier rounds.

In women's singles, third-seeded Wang Zhiyi of China fought her way into the quarter-finals, overcoming ninth-seeded P. V. Sindhu 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 in an 88-minute thriller.

Her compatriot Han Yue also advanced after a hard-fought three-game victory by beating South Korea's Kim Ga-eun 21-19, 20-22, 21-14. Former Olympic champion Chen Yufei exited, beaten by Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong 15-21, 25-23, 21-17.

In men's doubles, Chinese pair Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang survived a three-game thriller against Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, prevailing 22-20, 8-21, 21-19.

In women's doubles, top seeds Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning eased past Bulgarian sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 21-18. Fourth-seeded Jia Yifan/Zhang Shuxian and Li Yijing/Luo Xumin also sealed quarterfinal spots.

China's mixed pairs kept their strong momentum going. Top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeated Japan's Yuta Watanabe and Mayu Taguchi 21-19, 21-18, while fellow duos Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin, Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui also booked their quarterfinal berths.

Naraoka Kodai of Japan competes during the men's singles round of 16 match between Li Shifeng of China and Naraoka Kodai of Japan at BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, Aug. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)

Li Shifeng of China competes during the men's singles round of 16 match between Li Shifeng of China and Naraoka Kodai of Japan at BWF World Championships in New Delhi, India, Aug. 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)