KUALA LUMPUR: Unseeded K. Sehveetrraa was among four Malaysian squash players who advanced into the semi-finals of the Asian Qualifier for the World Championships on Friday.
The 18-year-old, who is ranked 124th in the world, stunned No. 71 and second seed Akanksha Salunkhe of India 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 in 34 minutes in the quarter-finals at NSC Courts in KL.
Sehveetrraa will face seventh seed Toby Tse of Hong Kong for a place in the semi-finals.
Toby, ranked 107th in the world, upset third seed Wai Yhann Au Yeong of Singapore 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7.
Sehveetrraa said this was the first time she beat a 71th ranked player, and it will be a big boost for her when playing Toby in the semi-finals.
"I have played her many times in junior meets and I am in the right frame of mind to create another upset to reach the final," said Seveetrraa.
World No. 79 and fourth seed Chan Yiwen also reached the semi-finals by defeating fifth seed Ching Hei Fung of Hong Kong 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 in 40 minutes.
Yiwen will next face world No. 69 and top seed Cheng Nga Ching of Hong Kong, who defeated Malaysia's Chen Yu Jie 11-9, 11-6, 11-7.
The 23-year-old Yiwen, who won the Hong Kong Challenger Cup in February, said that she had beaten Cheng in a junior tournament in straight sets before.
In the men's competition, Malaysia's Bryan Lim defeated compatriot Ong Sai Hung 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6 to set up a date with top seed Ryunosuke Tsukue of Japan.
Second seed Addeen Idrakie also reached the semi-finals with a hard fought 14-12, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4 win over compatriot Darren Pragasam in 74 minutes.
The 30-year-old Addeen will face third seed Tang Ming Hong of Hong Kong for a place in the final.
Ming Hong battled for 78 minutes with Malaysia's Syafiq Kamal before winning 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9.
