Nehwal in spat with Xuerui ahead of quarterfinal clash at badminton world championship

India's greatest woman badminton player Saina Nehwal and China's Olympic champion Li Xuerui have reportedly become embroiled in a sharp exchange of words before their quarterfinal clash at the world championships on Friday.

After beating Japan's Sayaka Takahashi 14-21, 21-18, 21-12 in the third round on Thursday, Nehwal said that entry regulations should be changed to help reduce China's monopoly of titles.

Nehwal said that when so many Chinese are playing against one player they can work one out, adding that it would be better if three players per country should be allowed, not four, China Daily reported.

However, that view was firmly rejected by Xuerui after her 21-9, 21-17 win over compatriot Han Li. She said that let Nehwal beat her first and then they would talk.

Xuerui, who has won seven of her nine encounters, said that even if there are only three players per country, if Nehwal is not strong enough she cannot win, and added that this is her own problem.

The last time Nehwal beat Xuerui was more than two years ago, at the Super Series tournament in Jakarta, and the 23-year-old from Chongqing is a far better player now.

Whoever wins will have an unexpected opponent in Saturday's semifinals after defending world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand was beaten by 16th-ranked Japanese player Minatsu Mitani 8-21, 21-12, 21-18, the report added.