PETALING JAYA: Malaysia marched into the mixed team final of the World Junior Championships after beating two-time champions Indonesia 2-0 at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday (Oct 9).
As expected, the semi-final was a close affair, with Malaysia pushed hard by last year’s runners-up Indonesia.
Boy’s singles player Tiew Wei Jie went down 6-11 to Fardhan Rainanda, but girl’s doubles pair Genevie Lim-Low Zi Yu responded by beating Atresia Naufa-Aurelia Syakira 22-17.
Indonesia fought back through Jolin Angelia, who edged Carine Tee 33-32 in the girl’s singles.
Zi Yu then returned to court with Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal in the mixed doubles and delivered another important point by beating Moses Andar-Reya Azzahra 44-43.
Damien Ling-Irfan Shazmir then sealed the first game for Malaysia with a 55-49 win over Faizal Pangetsu-Anju Siahaan.
That gave the Malaysian camp a lift, and Wei Jie returned for the second game determined to make amends as he beat Fardhan 11-7.
Genevie-Zi Yu also had little trouble despite Indonesia making a change by fielding Atresia with Halifia Usni, winning 22-11.
Malaysia had a brief scare when Carine again found herself in a tight battle with Jolin, but she held on for a 33-28 win.
Zi Yu-Redzuan remained consistent as they once again beat Moses-Reya, this time 44-37.
Redzuan then returned to court with Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim in the men’s doubles and they completed the job with a 55-42 win over Faizal-Anju.
The last time Malaysia reached the mixed team final at the World Junior Championships was at the 2017 edition in Yogyakarta.
Malaysia will face either China or Thailand in Saturday’s (Oct 10) final.
