Michelle Li might have progressed to the semi-finals of the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open, but she also had other things on her mind this week, such as sampling local delicacies and visiting “my 50 cousins”.

Canada’s top badminton player, who beat American Zhang Beiwen 16-21, 22-20, 21-17 at the Coliseum on Friday, was born in Hong Kong but moved to North America aged six, and it was there she first picked up a racquet.

Early in her career, the 33-year-old decided she would try to compete at the Hong Kong Open every season, but this week’s journey to the final four marks her first return in six years.

“It means a lot to me to be able to perform here and to be able to compete here again,” Li said. “I have like 50 cousins here, it’s only my parents that are in Canada, so it’s always a very special trip for me to come back.

“And honestly, it’s such a beautiful city, being at the hotel and the stadium every morning, you see the skyline over the city. It’s amazing.”

Li last played at the Open in 2019, where she lost to Zhang 21-18, 21-18 in the first round.