Boonsak, Salakjit seal semis spots

While brother Boonsak wasted just 23 minutes to beat Yun Lung Chan of Taiwan 21-4 21-12, Salakjit laboured to a three-game win over the persistent Zhang Wei-wen of Singapore 21-16 19-21 21-19 in the quarter-final at the Nimibutr Gymnasium.

Salakjit's win ended controversially after her smash, which landed close to the line, was called good. The frustrated Zhang, after failing to convince the chair umpire to change the decision, refused to shake hands after the match.

"It was a close call. Either it was in or out, it was just by a fraction of an inch," said Salakjit, who is in her first semi-final in four years. But she did not get carried away with that due to the absence of several big names.

"I heard they are afraid of the political situation here. Lin Dan loves Thailand because we have many temples but he and many fear that they won't be able to go home if the airport is closed like last year," Salakjit said.