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Indian Nehwal sets up quarter-final with Wang

File photo of Saina Nehwal of India as she plays against Li Xuerui (not pictured) of China during their womens' singles quarter-final match at the Badminton World Championships in Copenhagen August 29, 2014. REUTERS/Nils Meilvang/Scanpix Denmark

By Rod and Gilmour BIRMINGHAM, England, March 5 - Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal saw the singles draw open up for her on Thursday but the Indian must first overturn a Chinese hoodoo in the quarter-finals of the All-England Championships. The third seed had to show speed, control and variation to see off Kim Hyo Min of Chinese Taipei 21-15 21-15 and set up last-eight showdown with Wang Yihan, the 2009 winner. "I was playing her for the first time and she had early shots that I just didn’t anticipate," Nehwal told reporters. "No match is easy here and I will have to prepare well (against Wang). The girls are getting faster on court," added the 24-year-old who is bidding to become the first Indian female winner at the All-England. The only time Nehwal has beaten Wang came via a retirement and the Chinese holds an 8-1 career lead. A win for either player will open a path to Sunday's final after Olympic champion Li Xuerui's surprise defeat by compatriot Sun Yu. Sun, the world number 18, triumphed 21-13 21-13 to secure a meeting with Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon, the number eight seed. "I still haven't recovered from my foot injury," Li said. "I have only been in full training for two weeks but I came to this tournament because I love it and I never expected to win the title. "I am disappointed but it's not a major setback as I came here to enjoy it." World champion Carolina Marin of Spain remained on track for a first All-England title with a straight-games win over Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand. In the men's singles, defending champion Chen Long dispatched Chinese Taipei's Jen Hao Hsu 21-7 21-9. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)