QINGDAO, East China, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three teams have booked semifinal berths in the women's badminton team competition at the China's 11th National Games here on Friday.

    According to the competition format of badminton tournament at the National Games, the win-loss records in the preliminaries round are added to the finals round.

    On Friday morning, Guangdong pipped Shanghai 3-1, Hunan beat Shandong 3-0 and Jiangsu defeated Zhejiang 3-2. Considering their win-loss records in the preliminaries round, the three winning teams have each won four matches and already entered the semifinals.

    Olympic women's singles runner-up Xie Xingfang spearheaded Guangdong to overcome her national teammate Wang Yihan from Shanghai 21-18, 21-8, helping Guangdong win the match 3-1.

    "My form is getting better and better," said Xie after the match.

    Xie has been criticized for her poor form after the Beijing Olympics and she might retire after the National Games.

    Jiangsu received a tough challenge from Zhejiang but finally seized the victory 3-2. Wang Rong of Jiangsu, playing the decider, defeated Fan Ye of Zhejiang 22-20, 21-14.

    Gao Ling, who has the most world titles of 14, partnered with Wei Yili to beat their opponents from Sichuan, setting the winning tune for Hubei 3-1.

    In other matches, Fujian defeated Liaoning 3-2 and People's Liberation Army nipped Hong Kong of China 3-0.