Doubles player Yang Yu hits out at hectic tour schedule
China's world No 1 says overload of events has taken toll on players who are worn out
Doubles world number one Yu Yang, of China, hit out at the hectic schedule of the badminton world tour after losing her quarter-final tie at the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open yesterday.
Fresh from their victory in the China Open last week, top seeds Yu and partner Wang Xiaoli lost to teammates Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua, the fifth seeds, 23-21, 21-16 after 48 minutes.
"Our performance was below par as we committed too many mistakes today," said Yu. "We found it difficult to get into the game.
"But more importantly, the tight playing schedule and the few changes in the tour format have made us tired, and there was a lack of motivation to carry on, especially now that it is approaching the end of the season.
"While we have to play the regular tournaments, there are also other major events such as the World Championships, the Asian Championships on a yearly basis, and we also need to be involved in the domestic China League. We face the same faces again and again.
"In fact, I can't even remember how many matches I have played this year. The authorities must think of a way to resolve the problem, as it seems to me playing on the tour has become routine and uninspiring."
The pair, who made worldwide headlines when they threw their group match at the London Olympics and got kicked out, have taken part in eight of the 12 super series tournaments this year. They won four and also took the World Championships and Asian Championships titles, and helped China retain the Sudirman Cup.
Women's singles top seed and defending champion Li Xuerui of China, meanwhile, was stopped in the quarter-finals by Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand, 21-15, 21-19.
China still have two players in today's semis. Wang Shixian, the fourth seed, beat Juliane Schenk of Germany 21-16, 21-16 while Wang Yihan, the third seed, beat compatriot Han Li 21-13, 21-10.
In the men's singles, top seed Lee Chong-wei of Malaysia reached the semi-finals with a 21-8, 21-17 win over Jan Jorgensen of Denmark; no Chinese player is in the last four following the defeat of Wang Zhengming to Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia.
Hong Kong's Lee Chun-hei and Chau Hoi-wah reached their first super series semi-final after upsetting seventh seeds Praveen Jordan and Vita Marissa of Indonesia 21-12, 18-21, 21- 17 in the mixed doubles.
