Christie had stunned world number one Kento Momota of Japan yesterday to set up a meeting with former world champion Viktor Axelsen.

And the 21-year-old delivered an impressive performance to overcome Dane Axelsen, who had triumphed at the India Open last week.

Christie edged to a 21-18, 21-19 win in the BWF Super 750 event at Axiata Arena.

His semi-final opponent will be reigning Olympic champion Chen Long after the Chinese player beat India’s Srikanth Kidambi 21-18, 21-19.

Elsewhere, five-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan continued his upturn in form.

Prior to the tournament, the Chinese star had not won in the first round at a World Tour 500 event or higher since the Denmark Open in October.

The 35-year-old has won three consecutive matches after beating Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama 16-21, 21-17, 21-10.

He faces a semi-final against compatriot Shi Yuqi, who was a 21-17, 21-16 winner against Kenta Nishimoto of Japan.

The women’s singles lived up to pre-tournament expectations, with the top four seeds progressing to the semi-finals.

World number one Tai Tzu-Ying beat India Open champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-19, 21-13.

Her reward is a clash with Chen Yufei after the Chinese player overcame South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun 21-18, 21-14.

Japan are assured of a finalist at the tournament as Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi advanced and will face each other.

Second seed Okuhara saw off China’s He Bingjiao 21-19, 23-21, while Yamaguchi also came through a tight contest as she won 21-10, 7-21, 21-19 against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.

Semi-finals will take place tomorrow.