Making their mark: Mohd Faiq Masawi (left) and Lok Hong Quan.
PETALING JAYA: No shuttlers Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing, no problem.
Malaysia’s top junior men’s doubles shuttlers and defending champions were not fielded in the Malaysian Junior International Challenge but there was no need to fret as their teammates rose to the challenge well to assure the country of the title again this year.
Top seeds Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan have set up an all-Malaysian final with teammates Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim-Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal after beating South Korea’s eight seeded Cho Hyeon-woo-Yoon Ho-seong 21-19, 21-16 in the last four in Kangar yesterday.
Third seeds Isyraf and Redzuan were also on good form as they defeated another home pair Tor Bolherry-Khoh Jian Cheng 21-14, 21-18 in the other semi-final tie.
Faiq-Hong Quan will start as the favourites in the final today and will be out to capture the title after finishing runners-up to Asian Junior Championship silver medallists Aaron-Khai Xing last year.
National junior head coach Jeffer Rosobin was pleased to see his other charges step up in Aaron-Khai Xing’s absence.
“It’s good to see other pairs performing well in Aaron-Khai Xing’s absence. This augurs well for the future of men’s doubles in Malaysia,” said Jeffer.
“Faiq-Hong Quan have improved a lot in their overall game while Isyraf-Redzuan are also a talented pair. In the final, I hope both pairs will go all out to try and win the title.”
Meanwhile, there was also joy for Wee Yee Tern-Nicole Tan in the mixed doubles after the duo narrowly ousted fellow Malaysians Tan Zhi Yang-Teh Xin Ying 22-20, 22-20 to reach the final.
Yee Tern-Nicole, who are unseeded, will take on South Korea’s second seeds Lee Hyeong-woo-Cheon Hye-In for the title.
In the women’s doubles though, it was heartbreak for Asian Junior Championship bronze medallists Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting after they went down fighting 21-13, 21-23, 20-22 to Koreans Kim Min-ji-Kim So-hee.
