Canadian Michelle navigates longer and harder path to reach top level

Breakthrough: Michelle rates her 2014 Commonwealth Games triumph as the turning point in her career. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: Who would have thought moving from Hong Kong to Canada would turn Michelle Li into a badminton star. From a youngster who started from scratch in Markham, Ontario at the age of 11, the now 29-year-old late bloomer is currently ranked 10th in the world and has become a thorn in the flesh for many top players.

In the last three years, Michelle has beaten the likes of world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, South Korean Sung Ji-hyung and India’s Saina Nehwal, when they were at their peak.