Kunlavut Vitidsarn was dumped out in the men's singles quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, on Friday.
The reigning world champion went down to China's top seed Shi Yuqi 20-22, 13-21 in the 48-minute clash on Friday.
Shi will play either Jonatan Christie of Indonesia or Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The tournament also lost women's world No.1 player An Se-Young on Friday.
The Korean was beaten by another Chinese player He Bingjiao in straight games.
With the home crowd behind her, the sixth-ranked He triumphed 21-17, 21-18 to progress to the last four.
An, the top seed in Ningbo, will be favourite to win gold at the Paris Olympics but she has been struggling with a knee injury.
He will play compatriot Wang Zhiyi in the last four.
Wang battled past Aya Ohori of Japan 15-21, 21-12, 21-11 in her quarter-final.
In the other section of the draw, China's Han Yue defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-16.
She will play the winner of the last quarter-final tie between China's Chen Yufei and Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.
Meanwhile Thai mixed doubles stars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai were to play Seo Seung-Jae and Chae Yu-Jung of South Korea in a late match on Friday night.
The prestigious annual tournament is the final chance for Asian players to seal a spot at the Olympics. bangkok post/afp