The 24-year-old winner at last year’s ITTF Grand Finals began by accounting for China’s reigning world and Olympic champion Ding Ning in five games - 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 17-15, 11-6 - at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena.

Chen, winner of world team gold medals in 2014 and 2016, then won her quarter-final 12-10, 11-8, 18-16, 11-6 against qualifier Wang Yidi to set up a semi-final against another team-mate Wang Manyu, whom she defeated in last year’s final.

Wang Manyu also reached the semi-finals in Doha at the expense of a Chinese qualifier, defeating Sun Yingsha 5-11, 11-4, 11, 11-5, 11-2.

The second semi-final in the women's singles is due to be contested by the winners of tomorrow morning's matches between Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano and the last quarter-final between Hitomi Sato of Japan and China's Shiwen Liu.

"I’m feeling good, I believe I can win the tournament; I’m playing well, anything is possible."  said Wang.

Wang later teamed up with Chen Ke to win their semi-final in the women’s doubles by 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11 over Japan’s top seeds Honoka Hashimoto and Sato.

In the final they are scheduled to meet compatriots Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha, the fourth seeds,  who overcame Hong Kong’s number two seeds Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 13-11.

In the men’s doubles, the final will see China’s Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin meet Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Yuya Oshima.

At the semi-final stage Fan and Xu, the second seeds, beat South Korea’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, the seventh seeds, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7.

Mizutani and Oshima received a walk-over against China’s Fang Bo and Lin Gaoyuan after illness had prevented Fang from competing.

The second round in the men's singles produced the shock result of the day as Germany’s Timo Boll, currently top of the world rankings and seeded two here, was defeated 11-9. 11-9, 11-8. 7-11, 12-10 by 14th seeded Hugo Calderano of Brazil.

The finals of all the events are due to take place on Sunday (March 11).