Li wins badminton gold, makes history

GLASGOW: Michelle Li became the first Canadian to win women´s singles gold at the Commonwealth Games badminton on Sunday as she saw off the challenge of Scotland´s Kirsty Gilmour and her passionate home following at the Emirates Arena.

Li, who had caused a surprise on Saturday by beating top seed PV Sindhu of India, was always in control of the final. She dispatched Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in just 38 minutes, winning in straight sets 21-14, 21-7 on the final day of the Games.

The 22-year-old from Markham, Ont., Canada hasn't won badminton gold at the Games since Claire Backhouse and Johanne Falardeau took the women's doubles title in 1982. No Canadian had ever won a women's singles title.

Li and Alex Bruce narrowly missed a women's doubles bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics after qualifying for the semifinals.

Li, ranked No. 19 in the world, said her gold-medal performance on Sunday topped even that result.

Li, who was born in Hong Kong, won two gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

She said this victory sets her up nicely for the world championships in two weeks in Copenhagen.