Tokyo badminton silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei made Thai rival Ratchanok Intanton cry after their match at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.The pair have gone head-to-head nearly 40 times in their careers, and for Intanton to beat her close friend 21-19 21-15 at Porte de La Chapelle Arena was to take away Tai’s last chance at Olympic glory. Tai, known fondly as ‘Queen Tai,’ has said she will retire at the end of this year.Intanton wasn’t the only one who became emotional. Tai got a standing ovation as she walked off the court and was crying as she bowed one last time to a cheering crowd, embraced Intanton, and gave interviews to tearful local journalists, before leaving the mixed zone to further applause.She was her country’s flag bearer in the Games opening ceremony in Paris, a mark of her success and popularity at home. Tai, who has a PhD from the Institute of Sports Training at the University of Taipei, made her professional debut in 2009 at the Grand Prix in Vietnam at about age 15.By the time she was 22, Tai became the top-ranked singles player in the world and held that title for 214 weeks, making history at the time. She was world number one again at Tokyo but lost gold to China’s Chen Yufei in a match full of hypnotic rallies, that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.Wednesday’s match in Paris was nothing like that. The 30-year-old shuttler, who needed a medic after she hurt herself trying to make a shot at the end of the first game, was visibly frustrated during the match in which she repeatedly adjusted braces on both knees.“I know there are a lot of people who support me, but I know I’m not very well,” said an emotional Tai, who is typically stoic, soft-spoken and humble. “Before I came here, I knew I would find it hard to play the game because of my injury.”Tai has previously opened up about an issue with her left knee and earlier this year withdrew from the Singapore Open. She has a similar style to 29-year-old Intanton, who said their matches are like playing a mirror, and that she had told Tai that she was happy they were brought together. “We knew it’s our last match,” said a sobbing Intanton. “It disturbed me but I knew I must do it.”Meanwhile, Two-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan came close to being defeated in the final round of group play by Canada’s world number 31 Michelle Li in a day of close shaves in the women’s singles at Porte de La Chapelle Arena. Yamaguchi, ranked fifth, eked out a 22-24 21-17 21-12 victory through sheer stamina, as Li tired in the third game, losing four points toward the end in quick succession.World number 17 Kim Ga-eun of South Korea also looked to be in trouble against Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei, who ranks 15 places below her, until she rallied at the very end of the third game. Kim skidded across the court on her knees to reach some shots and pull of a 21-17 20-22 23-21 victory.In men’s singles, world number 22 Lakshya Sen of India produced some skilful returns to defeat Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, who ranks fourth, 21-18 21-12. Defending champion Viktor Axelsen dismantled Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen to cruise into the quarters.Denmark’s Axelsen made it three wins from three in Paris, overcoming a slow start to beat Nguyen 21-13, 21-10 and top his first-round group.China’s Shi Yuqi joined him with a 21-9, 21-10 stroll past Italy’s Giovanni Toti. Both Shi and Axelsen skip the last 16 and jump straight into the quarter-finals because of their world rankings.Shi said he was not feeling any extra pressure as the top-ranked player.