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ndonesian world No. 8 Simon Santoso is set for a semifinal clash against world No. 5 Chen Jin of China in the Australia Open GP Gold badminton tournament on Saturday. Meanwhile, favorite Taufik Hidayat was stopped at the quarterfinal stage on Friday.

Third-seed Simon booked a semifinal spot after beating seventh-seeded Wan Ho Shon of South Korea 21-15, 12-21, 21-10 on Friday. Meanwhile, top=seed Jin outclassed Japanese Takuma Ueda in a straight sets 21-17, 21-19.

“I have to play patiently tomorrow [Saturday] because he [Jin] is a strong and tenacious shuttler. I don’t think that it will be easy, but I will do my best,” said Simon as quoted by Antara news agency.

Head to head, Jin has won five times with Simon’s only victory coming at the Malaysia Open last year.

As for Taufik, the world No. 11 failed to handle second seed Sho Sasaki in a 21-10, 22-20 loss. “I wasn’t well prepared and was a bit out of shape, while Sasaki played very well.”

Taufik said that he planned to participate in the India Super Series as his last tournament before qualification for London Olympics closes on May 3.

Only those sitting in the top-16 singles and top-eight doubles as of May 3 will quality for the Olympics, which will run between July and August.

“I really hope [my position] will be secure [by then],” said the 2004’s Athens Olympics gold medalist.

Elsewhere, sixth seeded Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia also secured a semifinal spot in the men’s doubles after sending compatriots Alvent Yulianto Chandra and Hendra Aprida Gunawan crashing out 21-15, 21-15.

The Beijing Olympics gold medalists will take on the eighth-seeded juniors Angga Pratama and Ryan Agung Saputra, who earned a semifinal berth by upsetting second-seeded Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Noriyasu Hirata of Japan 19-21, 21-17, 21-19.