National champion Ashutosh Singh played out of his skin to oust local hope Aqeel Khan and reach the singles semi-finals in US $10,000 ITF grass court tournament in Lahore [Images] on Thursday.

The second seeded Indian overcame the sixth seed 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(4) in the quarter-finals.

Khan won last week's event, beating Divij Sharan in the final.

Sharan's challenge ended on Thursday when he went down to compatriot Sunil Kumar Sipaeya 3-6, 1-6 in another quarter-final.

Also making an exit was seventh seed Vivek Shokeen, who succumbed to the top seed Czech Adam Vejmelka 1-6, 4-6.

• Earlier report: Four Indians in quarter-finals of Lahore ITF

The top four seeds will clash in the semi-finals. Sipaeya takes on Vejmelka while Ashutosh meets fourth seed Bogdan-Victor Leonte.

The Romanian player pipped eighth seed Hsin-Han Lee of Taipei 6-4, 6-4 in another quarter-final.

Meanwhile, the Indian duo of Ashutosh and Shokeen won their second doubles title in three weeks when they beat the second seeded pair of Leonte and Vejmelka 6-1, 6-4.

The Delhi boys had also won the doubles title at the home ITF event held in Gulbarga, Karnataka.