KUALA LUMPUR: Boys' doubles Aaron Tai-Kang Khi Xing justified their top billing at the World Junior Championships by battling their way into the final in Nanchang today.
Aaron-Khai Xing were expected to get past China No. 2 Chen Yong Rui-Chen Zhe Han without trouble, but were forced to slog for their 21-18, 10-21, 21-15 win in the semi-final that lasted 58 minutes.
Khai Xing was relieved after making a strong comeback in the third game. "I am very happy because we managed to overcome our nerves and make a comeback to reach the final," he said.
"We relied more on our attacking game in order to win the match."
In the title decider, it will be a repeat of the Asian Junior final between Aaron-Khai Xing and Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi, and the Malaysians will be seeking revenge for their defeat to the China pair.
Ke Yuan-Xiang Yi, who defeated the Malaysian duo at the Asian Junior in Yogyakarta in June, checked into the final after beating Japan's Kenta Matsukawa-Yuto Nakashizu 21-17, 21-5 in the last four.