Wang, who was number one for 29 weeks last year, went out of the Yonex World Championships in London to drop to second in the rankings.

Coming into this year the 22-year-old may have still been optimistic of making it to London, and seemed to have done enough as despite her inconsistency she was ranked third on May 3, the cut-off date of Olympic qualifying.

Li (pictured above), 21, sat just 696.7 points behind in fourth at the time, but had overtaken Wang by the end of May.

Having gone 30 games unbeaten between February and June, Li claimed five individual titles this year to book her place in London.

China is able to have three Olympic singles spots because it has at least that many athletes in the top four.

However, as the fourth athlete in the top four is also Chinese, one was going to miss out.


Li will join Wang Yihan (pictured above), the world's top player, and number two Wang Xin, at this summer's Games.

The Chinese trio will face tough competition for Olympic gold as they go up against Indian world number five Saina Nehwal, Germany's Juliane Schenk and experienced Danish competitor Tine Baun.

Among the other badminton athletes going to London this summer, is the Czech Republic's Petr Koukal.

His appearance in London will cap a remarkable recovery from testicular cancer, particularly as he left it late to qualify and seal his Olympic spot.

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