‘Li-thally’ Done! – Day 2: HSBC BWF World Tour Finals
A day after almost pushing Nozomi Okuhara to a decider, Michelle Li (featured image) shocked Chen Yufei and nearly every fan inside Tianhe Gymnasium this afternoon – all but knocking out the hosts’ lone Women’s…
· GAYLE ALLEYNE
A day after almost pushing Nozomi Okuhara to a decider, Michelle Li (featured image) shocked Chen Yufei and nearly every fan inside Tianhe Gymnasium this afternoon – all but knocking out the hosts’ lone Women’s Singles contender in a nail-biting encounter at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.
Urged on by pockets of supporters shouting “Come on, Michelle!” or “You can do it, Michelle!”, the Hong Kong-born Canadian focused on the challenge at hand, coming from a game down to deliver the biggest result of the year-end showpiece thus far: 16-21 21-18 21-17 in 71 minutes.
In a match of great importance – with both Group B players having lost yesterday – the 27-year-old held firm in the dying exchanges versus the younger world No.3 who has entrenched herself among the category’s elite in the past two seasons. A few nervous moments when Li was 19-15 ahead brought Chen to within two points but the Chinese misjudged a lofted backhand from Li which landed in to bring up three match points – only one was needed as Chen netted the following rally.