Defending champion Miu Hirano of Japan won both her matches today to secure her place in the semi-finals of the ITTF Women’s World Cup ©ITTF

Defending champion Miu Hirano of Japan won both her matches today to secure her place in the semi-finals of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Women’s World Cup at the Pan Am Centre in Canadian city Markham.

Having beat Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-4, 11-2 in the round of 16, the 17-year-old went onto defeat Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu 11-7, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 in the quarter-finals.

Awaiting her in the semi-finals is second seed Liu Shiwen, who remains in the hunt to secure a fifth title at the competition.

The Chinese registered wins today over 2017 ITTF-Africa Cup champion Dina Meshref of Egypt - 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 - and Romania’s Elizabeta Samara - 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4.

Also through to the semi-finals is Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, who lost to Hirano in last year’s final.

Fifth seed Cheng started the day by overcoming Hungary’s Georgina Póta 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4 and then beat Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching 6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Second seed Liu Shiwen of China is through to the semi-finals ©Getty Images
Second seed Liu Shiwen of China is through to the semi-finals ©Getty Images

Lee, the 13th seed, had earlier been responsible for the shock exit of Japanese third seed Kasumi Ishikawa in the round of 16, winning 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 1-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6.

Next up for Cheng is Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling, who is vying for her first triumph at the event.

Zhu recorded victories against home favourite Zhang Mo - 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 14-12, 11-2 - and The Netherlands’ and Li Jie - 11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.

She has now surpassed her result from her first appearance at the competition in 2015, when she was eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

Action in Markham is due to continue tomorrow.

The final and third-place play-off will immediately follow the semi-finals.