Despite the absence of no less than eight stars - Wang Hao, Ma Lin, Ma Long, Wang Liqin, Chen Qi, Zhang Yining, Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yue, Guo Yan, Liu Shiwen, China had dominated matters.

They sent all four semifinalists with Hao Shuai and Chang Chenchen plus Zhang Chao and Yao Yan being bronze medallists.

China booked three semifinal places in the men's doubles, with Japanese Seiya Kishikawa and Jun Mizutani making the host country proud by taking one.

Wang Liqin celebrates after defeating teammate Chen Qi in the quarterfinals of men's singles.

The Japanese duo will take on Ma Long and Xu Xin on Monday and Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike will play an all-Chinese game against Chen Qi and Wang Hao.

Chinese Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxiao dampened Japanese enthusiasm by beating Ai Fukuhara and Sayaka Hirano in the women's doubles, setting up a semifinal clash against Hong Kong pair Jiang Huajun and Tie Yana.

The other semifinal will be South Korea's Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young against China's Ding Ning and Guo Yan.

"In recent world championships or Olympics, semifinals are always more exciting than finals," said Yao, "because finals are all Chinese affairs."

"I don't like watching Chinese vs. Chinese games either," he added.

Li Ping (L) and Cao Zhen clinch the mixed doubles gold.

(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2009)