An ankle injury was not enough to deter Liew Daren from progressing to the BWF World Championships semi-finals in Nanjing, China, on Friday.

After taking the first set 22-20 against Japanese shuttler Kanta Tsuneyama, the 30-year-old was seemingly ready to concede a walkover as he hurt his ankle at 13-13 in the second set.

He managed to shake it off but lost the second set 21-23.

A spirited performance in the final set saw him win 22-20 to secure a bronze medal finish at least.


In doing so, he became the third Malaysian to secure a World Championships medal after Wong Choong Han and Lee Chong Wei.

He will next face either B Sai Praneeth or Kento Momota for a place in the final.

In the other men's singles semi-final match, Chen Long, who overcame defending champion Viktor Axelsen, will take on fellow countryman Shi Yuqi.

Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying lost to Tang Chu Man and Tse Ying Suet 12-21, 21-11, 15-21, and men's doubles duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were downed by China's Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen 14-21, 22-24.