PETALING JAYA: Reigning world junior champions Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai (pic) 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 yesterday 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 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.
