PETALING JAYA: It will be a busy final day for Malaysia after the hosts secured places in four of the five title matches at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge.
Mixed doubles pair Irfan Shazmir-Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta stormed into the final after beating Indonesia's Faza Iwadh Kurnia Ramdhan-Rachel Machalul Cahya Ayu 21-7, 21-13 in just 24 minutes in the semi-finals at Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (July 25).
They will face compatriots and top seeds Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal-Teh Si Yan, who defeated Isyraf Hafizin-Joinne Lee 21-6, 16-21, 21-15 to set up an all-Malaysian final.
Shazmir admitted reaching the final had exceeded their expectations.
"We'll use everything we've learned when we face them tomorrow and hopefully win the title," he said.
Aina said having her parents in the stands gave her an extra lift.
"We'll do our best to cut down on our unforced errors and read the game better," she said.
Isyraf will have another chance to fight for a title when he partners Redzuan in the boys' doubles final against compatriots Damien Ling-Irfan Shazmir.
Isyraf-Redzuan booked their place in the final with a 21-16, 10-21, 21-9 win over Khairul Azlan Khashah-Yusuf Iqbal, while Damien-Irfan beat Ethan Oh-Wong Meng Fong 21-17, 21-13.
In the girls' doubles, Rachel Tan-Teh Xin Ying battled back from a game down to beat Taiwan's Chin Yu-hsin-Lee Siou-jin 9-21, 21-4, 21-12 and will take on Thailand's Chantharat Marndakul-Pearploy Suttiwarayanon in the final.
Fourth seed Tiew Wei Jie also advanced to the boys' singles final after defeating compatriot Louis Lee 21-14, 21-12.
Wei Jie will meet Thailand's Punnatat Prempunpong for the title.
The only final without Malaysia will be in the women's singles following Lee Kay Xin 20-22, 15-21 loss to Thailand's Kungkaew Kakanik the in the semi-finals.
