Pitchamon Opatniputh advanced to the women's singles semi-finals of the US$500,000 (16.5 million baht) BWF Thailand Open on Friday, while Ratchanok Intanon bowed out at the hands of Japanese rising star Hina Akechi.
The 19-year-old Pitchamon edged past fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 in one hour and 17 minutes to continue her quest for her first Super 500 title.
Next up for the former world junior champion is a match-up against Japanese top seed Akane Yamaguchi, who scraped past sixth seed Pusarla V Sindhu of India 19-21, 21-18, 21-15 in another tough quarter-final match on Friday.
Pitchamon, who upset another senior compatriot Supanida Katethong in the opening round, reached two finals already this season at the Indonesia Masters (Super 500) and the Orleans Masters (Super 300). She has two World Tour titles -- both Super 100 events.
Ratchanok, who had hurt her right knee at the Indonesia Masters in January and said she wasn't fully fit, survived a three-game battle against Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan on Thursday.
But another match against a much younger opponent less than 24 hours later proved too much for the Thai veteran as she slumped to 13-21, 16-21 defeat in just 34 minutes against Akechi.
The 21-year-old Japanese will take on defending champion Chen Yufei in the semi-finals today after the Chinese second seed downed fifth seed Tomaka Miyazaki of Japan 21-15, 21-18.
In the men's singles event, top seed Shi Yuqi of China survived a test, overcoming unseeded Koki Watanabe of Japan 21-14, 13-21, 21-16.
The world No.1 will next play third seed Anders Antonsen after the Dane defeated Su Li-yang of Taiwan 21-11, 21-11.
In the bottom half of the draw, fourth seed Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan reached the semis with a 21-18, 21-23, 21-14 victory over Jeon Hyeok-Jin of South Korea.
Chou will play the winner of the last quarter-final between second seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Lakshya Sen of India.
Meanwhile, Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul bowed out after losing to Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin of Indonesia 16-21, 15-21, ending Thailand's interest in the men's doubles event. Carnando and Marthin will play China's He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu in the semi-finals.
