By Michael Pavitt

China have a host of names in the semi-finals at the All England Open Badminton Championships ©Getty ImagesChina's Wang Shixian bowed out in the quarter finals of the All England Open Badminton Championships as the highest ranked women's seed fell for the second day in a row at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England.

There was no such drama in the men's draw as top seed Chen Long of China cruised into the semi-finals

Following China's number one seed Li Xuerui exit in the women's competition yesterday, attention turned to her fellow countrywoman and second seed Wang Shixian, who was facing the tricky seventh seed Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan.

Tai Tzu Ying got off to the perfect start by winning a tight first game 21-18 but the match was quickly level again as Shixian comfortably took the second 21-9.

However Shixian was unable to build upon the second game, losing the decisive third game of the match 21-19.

Tai Tzu Ying will now face Spain's Carolina Marin in the semi-final after she overcame South Korea's Sung Ju Hyun in straight games, while China's Sun Yu, conqueror of Li Xuerui yesterday, will face India's Saina Nehwal in the second semi-final, with Nehwal now the highest ranked woman left in the draw.

The men's competition sees top seed Chen Long of China still going strong as he looks to regain the title he won in 2013, moving into the last four with a straightforward 21-11, 21-11 win over Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan.

He will next meet his compatriot, Olympic champion Lin Dan, in a tantalising all Chinese semi-final.

Lin Dan will meet top seed Cheng Long in an all Chinese men's semi final match ©Getty ImagesLin Dan will meet top seed Cheng Long in an all Chinese men's semi final match ©Getty Images



Japan's Sho Sasaki and Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen will meet for the right to play one of the Chinese men in the final, after respective wins over Rajiv Ouseph of England and Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, each managed in straight games.

Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa, beaten men's doubles finalists for the past two years, remain on course for a third successive final after getting the better of Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin of Taiwan.

The duo will now meet Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark who came through a thrilling three game quarter final, while the second Danish pairing of Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding will face China's Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan.

Husband and wife pairing Chris and Gabby Adcock lost in the mixed doubles to end home interest ©Getty ImagesHusband and wife pairing Chris and Gabby Adcock lost in the mixed doubles to end home interest ©Getty Images




Success for China is assured in the women's doubles as they boast all four of the semi-finalists, highlighting their incredible strength in depth, with Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei the top seeds and pair to beat.

While Chinese success continues at the annual All England Championships, hosts England's wait for a first title since 2005, when Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson won the mixed doubles, continues after husband and wife pairing Chris and Gabrielle Adcock bowed out of the mixed doubles.

Thailand's Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir ended the English interest at the Championships with a 21-14, 18-21, 21-19 victory and the duo will now play Denmark's Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in the semi-finals.

A second Thai pairing of Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto face China's top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in tomorrow's other last four match.

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