The Indian star, seeded fourth for the tournament at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, came up against a determined He, but took the opening game.

However, eighth seed He fought back and managed to turn the match around as she claimed a 15-21, 21-14, 24-22 triumph to reach the semi-finals.

The Chinese player will go up against second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the last four after she overcame 2013 world champion Ratchanok Intanon, the sixth seed, 21-16, 21-19.

Top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei is also through to the semi-finals as she made light work of China's Chen Yufei with a 21-11, 21-7 victory.

She will clash with unseeded South Korean Jang Mi-lee for a place in the tournament's showpiece contest on Sunday (April 30).

In the men's singles, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and home favourite Chen Long remain on course for a repeat of the gold medal match at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as both players reached the semi-finals.

Lee accounted for Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei with a 21-18, 21-13 win, while Olympic champion Chen beat eighth seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong 21-17, 21-13.

The Malaysian, the top seed for the event, will play two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan of China in the last four, while Chen is set to entertain compatriot Shi Yuqi.

At the European Badminton Championships at the Sydbank Arena in Kolding in Denmark, Olympic champion and top seed Carolina Marin enjoyed safe passage through to the next round.

The Spaniard dispatched home favourite and eighth seed Natalia Koch Rohde 21-11, 21-14, to progress to the last four.

Olympic bronze medallist and men's top seed Viktor Axelsen kept Danish hopes of home glory alive as he beat Dutchman Mark Caljouw 21-17, 21-14.

Axelsen's team-mate Anders Antonsen, seeded fifth, also prolonged his stay at the competition by ousting third seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany 21-19, 21-18.

Both events are due to continue tomorrow.