Ace Indian woman shuttler Saina Nehwal [Images] on Friday struggled her way into the semi-finals of the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open defeating Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand.

The second seeded Indian beat less-fancied Buranaprasertsuk, ranked 42nd in the world, 21-19, 18-21, 21-16 to set up a last four clash against Indonesia's Pia Zebadiah Bernadet.

Unseeded Bernadet stunned Beijing [Images] Olympics [Images] bronze medallist Maria Kristin Yulianti of Indonesia, seeded third in the event 21-18, 22-20 in another quarter-final match.

Nehwal had earlier beaten Hong Kong's Kwan Yi Mong 21-8, 21-12 to move into the last eight stage.