The world No 26 Khosit took three minutes over an hour to eliminate China’s Lu Guangzu 21-16 12-21 21-16 in the quarter-finals yesterday (Thailand time), while the 38th-ranked Lee dashed the hopes of Thailand’s young gun Kantapphon Wangcharoen 21-18 21-18.

For Khosit, 23, from Chiang Mai, it’s a first semi-final since he triumphed at the Vietnam Open last September.

“I really pushed myself to dictate play as Lu was fast and loved to come to the net. I had to keep him at the baseline and took the initiative. I was a better player today,” said the fourthseeded Khosit.

He is looking to settle a score with four-time BWF Tour champion Lee, who beat him 21-15 21-9 in the Hong Kong Open second round last year.

“Lee is a very strong and solid player. I lost to him the last time we met. I hope I can return him the favour this time,” he said.

Khosit is the only Thai left in competition.

Elsewhere in the women’s singles quarter-finals, 2017 Princess Cup champion Busanan Ongbamrungphan lost to Japanese arch-rival Aya Ohori 21-7 21-10, while Uber Cup teammate Pornpawee Chochuwong succumbed to top seed Beiwen Zhang of Malayisa 18-21 24-22 1-21.

In the women’s doubles quarter-finals, Supissara Paewsampran and Puttita Supajirakul were sent packing by Tang Jinhua and Yu Xiaohan of China 6-21 14-21.