KUALA LUMPUR: China's Li Shi Feng may be out of the Super 1000 Petronas Malaysia Open, but don't write off the China No. 1, who still has time to peak at the Paris Olympics in July.
On Friday, the world No. 3 was sent packing in the quarter-finals after suffering a 21-12, 21-18 upset to Taiwan's world No. 21 Lin Chun Yi at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
However, the reigning Asian Games champion did not seem too troubled by the defeat.
Instead, the 2023 All England champion told the press that it was still too early to conclude his performance as the Malaysia Open was only his first tournament of the year.
"It's too early to judge my performance since this is only the first tournament of the year.
"I don't have any particular favourites as I treat all tournaments the same. However, there is a slight difference and excitement when it's a major," said Shi Feng, who also won the US Open crown last season.
Based on the latest Race to Paris standings, Shi Feng is one rung below compatriot Shi Yu Qi at No. 4.
On the rivalry leading up to the Olympics, with two more shuttlers — Weng Hong Yang (No. 15) and Lu Guang Zu (No. 18) — close on their heels, Shi Feng added: "I don't see it as a rivalry, because this situation also exists in other countries.
"We will assist each other in achieving our goal."
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Chun Yi acknowledged that Malaysia might just be his favourite stomping ground, after also reaching the Malaysia Masters semi-finals last year.
"I definitely have some good luck here (Malaysia) because I did not expect to come this far in the tournament.
"I hope to maintain the same kind of consistency. I don't want to play good today and then lose the next," added Chun Yi, who will face either world No. 2 Kodai Naraoka of Japan or Denmark's world No. 9 Anders Antonsen in the semi-finals on Saturday.