Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing in action during against Micaiah Jien Zheng Chai and Choo Kai Qing at the Bergamot KL Masters Malaysia Super 100 2023 at Stadium Titiwangsa on October 31.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing have ended Malaysia’s 13-year wait to clinch the boy’s doubles gold medal at the World Junior Championships.
The top seed Malaysians fought through a tough battle with second seeds Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi of China to win 21-18, 15-21, 21-18 in Nanchang, China on Sunday (Oct 13).
The last Malaysian boy’s doubles pair to win the title was Nelson Heng-Teo Ee Yi during the 2011 edition.
The win for Aaron-Khai Xing now makes it three wins out of four encounters for the Malaysians, having only lost the previous encounter at the Asian Junior Championships in July to Keyuan-Xiangyi.
Meanwhile, girl’s doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu settled for the silver medal after losing 17-21, 17-21 to fourth seeds Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki of Japan in the final.
The unseeded Malaysians had a stellar run in the tournament after toppling Chinese top seeds Chen Fan Shutian-Liu Jia Yue to book their spots in the final on Saturday, making them the first Malaysians in the final of the tournament since Pearly Tan-Toh Ee Wei win silver in the 2018 edition.
