Malaysia win world junior badminton doubles title after a decade

 

Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing captured the boys’ doubles title at the World Junior Championships with a thrilling three-game battle in Nanchang, China, today. (X pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

After more than a decade, Malaysia finally reclaimed its place as world junior badminton champions in the boys’ doubles, following a sensational victory by Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing in Nanchang, China, today.

The top seeds survived a thrilling rubber game lasting 65 minutes against home favourites and second seeds Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi.

After a fiery start which saw Aaron-Khai Xing win the first game 21-18, things went south for them in the second game as they succumbed to a 15-21 loss before ultimately taking home the title with a 21-18 victory in the third game.

Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi were the last Malaysians to win the boys’ doubles title in 2011 at the World Junior Championships in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

It feels like a dream come true,

 said Aaron. 

We felt the pressure in the second game, but we didn’t give up, and in the end, we made it,

 he said in an audio recording shared by the Badminton World Federation to the media.

Aaron, 17, expressed his relief at having redeemed last year’s heartbreak, where he and his former partner, Bryan Goonting, could only secure a bronze medal after losing to Taiwan’s Lai Po Yu and Tsai Fu Cheng by 18-21, 21-15, 14-21 in the semi-finals.

Heartbreak for girls’ doubles pair

However, in the girls’ doubles final, there was no fairy-tale ending for national pair Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi as they fell short against the fourth seeds from Japan, Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki.

Despite the 17-21, 17-21 loss, the unseeded pair deserve a pat on their backs following a gallant run in their first major tournament, including creating a huge upset over the top seeds from China, Chen Fan Shu Tian-Liu Jia Yue, 16-21, 21-16, 21-17, in the last-four yesterday.

Today’s result mirrors the success of Pearly Tan-Toi Ee Wei, who were runners-up at the 2018 championships in Markham, Canada.

Speaking after the match, Dania, 16, acknowledged that they struggled to keep up with their opponents, who played at a much faster pace throughout the match.

Although the 14-year-old Zi Yu felt a little sad about not bringing glory to Malaysia, she still took pride in being the youngest player to compete in the WJC.

Last week, Malaysia clinched bronze in the mixed-team event as they lost to China in the last-four. - FMT