World junior champs Kang-Aaron reach last four, eye all-Malaysian final in Lucknow


Moving forward: World junior champions Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai keep national flag flying in India. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Reigning world junior champions Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai face a stern test if they are to set up an all-Malaysian men’s doubles final at the Syed Modi International after battling their way into the semi-finals.

The sixth-seeded pair were made to work hard on Friday (Nov 28) before overcoming India’s Hariharan Amsakarunan-M.R. Arjun 22-20, 14-21, 21-13 in a tense quarter-final encounter in Lucknow.

Khai Xing-Aaron will now take on Russia’s seventh seeds Rodion Alimov-Maksim Ogloblin, who had upstaged fourth seeds He Zhi-wei-Huang Jui-hsuan of Taiwan 21-11, 21-16. 

A win will take them to the final. 

Malaysia are already guaranteed one finalist from the lower half of the draw as Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan square off against Chia Weijie-Lwi Sheng Hao in an all-Malaysian semi-final today.

Faiq-Hong Quan earned their spot after dispatching Japan’s Masayuki Onodera-Deigo Tanioka 21-16, 21-15, while Weijie-Sheng Hao marched on by beating the United Arab Emirates duo Dev Ayyappan-Dhiren Ayyappan 21-18, 21-13.

There was also a lift in the women’s doubles camp with Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting advancing into the semis.

However, they face a daunting task against Indian home favourites and top seeds Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand next.

RESULTS

(Malaysians only)
Men's doubles: Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan bt Masayuki Onodera-Deigo Tanioka (Jpn) 21-16, 21-15; Chia Weijie-Lwi Sheng Hao bt Dev Ayyappan-Dhiren Ayyappan (UAE) 21-18, 21-13; Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai bt Hariharan Amsakarunan-M.R. Arjun (Ind) 22-20, 14-21, 21-13.
Women's doubles: Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting bt Priya Konkengbam-Shruti Mishra (Ind) 21-13, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Dejan Perdinansyah-Bernadia Anindya (Ina) bt Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien 21-15, 12-21, 21-10; Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) bt Wee Yee Hern-Vannee Gobi 21-14, 21-11.

 

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Badminton

Kang looks forward to improving his game with new partner Lok
From Asiad sidelines to world juniors frontline, Wei Xiang steps up with confidence
Zii Jia on guard against early freeze at Arctic Open�
Zii Jia safely through to Arctic Open main draw
Coach Pang may be absent, but his advice stays present for shuttlers at world juniors
Aaron set for cool new show with Roy King at Arctic Open
Coach Pang's message fuels Redzuan's world junior mission
Malaysia targeting q-finals after World Junior redraw
Former champ Zii Jia takes long road back at Arctic Open
Made of sterner stuff

Others Also Read