KUALA LUMPUR – National junior men’s doubles pair Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai marched into the final round of the Thailand International Challenge, after defeating their Chinese Taipei opponents at the Terminal Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima today.
World number 167 Khai Xing-Aaron defeated 190-ranked Chiu Hsiang-chieh-Liu Kuang-heng in the semi-finals 21-12, 22-20 in just 29 minutes.
This will be their third straight final of the season after winning the Dutch Junior International and finishing runners-up at the German Junior earlier this month.
However, independent pair Lwi Sheng Hao-Jimmy Wong could not make it to an all-Malaysian final after falling at the hands of tournament second seeds Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
The world number 73 Malaysians were powerless against Sukphun-Teeraratsakul, losing in straight sets 21-13, 21-14.
World number 53 Sukphun-Teeraratsakul will be favourites in the final tomorrow considering their higher rankings but tournament third seed Khai Xing-Aaron is in hot form. – March 30, 2024