Unseeded Malaysian Girls One Step Away From World Junior Championship

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Malaysia’s junior girls doubles pair Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi are on the brink of becoming world junior champions, entering the final in their WJC debut. (Facebook pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Unseeded young Malaysian pair Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi are one step away from becoming the first Malaysian girls’ doubles pair to become world junior champions as they stormed into the final of the championships in Nanchang, China, today.
They pulled off a sensational comeback victory by toppling home favourites and the top seeds, Chen Fan Shu Tian-Liu Jia Yue, 16-21, 21-16, 21-17 in a thrilling semi-final encounter that lasted 71 minutes.
Expressing her joy of reaching the final in their maiden appearance at the World Junior Championships (WJC), Dania, 16, credited a tactical adjustment in the second and third games for their success.

Our coach asked us to increase the tempo and play faster than the first game, she said in an audio recording shared by the Badminton World Federation to the media.
In the final tomorrow, Zi Yu-Dania will take on fourth seeds, Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki of Japan who created an upset over second seeds from Indonesia, Isyana Syahira Meida-Rinjani Kwinara Nastine, 21-18, 21-19.
A Malaysian pair was last in the WJC final in 2018 when Pearly Tan-Toh Ee Wei were defeated by Liu Xuanxuan-Xia Yuting of China, 16-21, 16-21 in Markham, Canada.
In the boys’ doubles, top seeds Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing lived up to expectations with a 21-18, 10-21, 21-15 victory after surviving a rubber game against home pair and fourth seeds Chen Yong Rui-Chen Zhe Han,
Aaron-Khai Xing will have a chance to end Malaysia’s 13-year title drought when they face second seeds Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi of China, who disposed of Japan’s Kenta Matsukawa-Yuto Nakashizu, 21-17, 21-5.
Khai Xing said their composure was crucial in turning things around after dropping the second game, allowing them to secure the rubber game and clinch a spot in the final tomorrow.
In 2011, Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi won the boys’ doubles title at the WJC in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Malaysia clinched bronze in the mixed-team event last week after losing to hosts China. - FMT

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