KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Upcoming national men’s doubles pair Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai’s hopes of ending Malaysia’s seven-year title drought in the Badminton Asia Junior Championships was dashed by China’s Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi, today.
Despite being ranked the world number one in the junior category, Khai Xing-Aaron were stunned by the fifth seeds in straight sets, winning 13-21, 11-21 in the 33-minute finals played at the Among Rogo Sports Hall in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
It was their first defeat in three encounters against Ke Yun-Xiang Yi.
In the semi-finals yesterday, Khai Xing-Aaron ousted Taiwan’s Hung Ming Chen-Cheng Han Tsai, while the Chinese duo bested their compatriots Chen Jun Ting-Liu Jun Rong.
Khai Xing-Aaron, however, were the country’s sole finalist this time, while women’s singles player Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi and women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting returned with bronze, in addition to the mixed team event bronze.
Ranked world number 83, Khai Xing-Aaron, who claimed the Dutch Junior International Championships and Thailand Junior International Challenge titles this year, were the first Malaysian duo to advance to the finals since Yew Hong Kheng-Ow Yao Han's achievement in 2010.
Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao was the last Malaysian to clinch the Asian Junior title in 2017, while the last men’s doubles pair to emerge victorious was Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang in 2008.
-- BERNAMA
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