KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia enjoyed a strong performance at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China, with two pairs advancing to the finals, securing their spots in the race for gold.
Top seeds in the boys’ doubles, Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing, delivered a hard-fought 21-18, 10-21, 21-15 victory over China’s Chen Yong Rui and Chen Zhe Han in the semi-finals today.
Aaron and Khai Xing, who will start as favourites for gold, will face another Chinese pair, second seeds Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi, tomorrow.
The Malaysians previously lost to this pair in the final of the Asian Junior Championships in July, settling for silver.
“We’re happy to win the semi-final, especially after overcoming the second-game defeat and coming back to win the third,” said Aaron.
A win tomorrow would make Aaron and Khai Xing the first Malaysian boys’ doubles pair to claim gold since Nelson Heg and Teo Ee Yi in 2011.
That same year, Malaysia also won the mixed team title and the boys’ singles gold through Zulfadli Zulkiffli.
Earlier today, Malaysia’s girls’ doubles pair, Low Zi Yu and Dania Sofea, pulled off a stunning 16-21, 21-16, 21-17 upset over world number ones Chen Fang Shu Tian and Liu Jia Yue of China to reach their first major final together.
By reaching the final, Zi Yu and Dania have already guaranteed themselves a medal, but the pair now have the chance to go one step further than Pearly Tan and Toh Ee Wei, who claimed silver at the 2018 edition in Markham, Canada.
The Sarawak Sukma champions from Johor will next face fourth seeds Ririna Hiramoto and Aya Tamaki of Japan.
Malaysia has already secured a bronze in this year’s edition through the mixed team event. - October 12, 2024
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