KUALA LUMPUR: The newly formed men's doubles pairing of Muhammad Haikal Nazri and Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani reached the final of the Super 100 China Masters badminton tournament in Ruichang, China, today.
Haikal-Nur Izzuddin edged Thailand's Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsanga 21-15, 20-22, 21-15 in the semi-finals to set a date with China's Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi in the final tomorrow.
Bo Yang-Liu Yi eliminated another Malaysian pair, Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe, 21-12, 21-14 in their semi-final clash.
Haikal wants revenge as he and his old partner, Wan Arif Junaidi, lost to the Chinese pair in the quarter-finals of last year's Malaysia International Series in Ipoh.
"We are glad to reach our first final of the year.
"We are going for our second title as pair after winning the Malaysian International Challenge in Ipoh in December.
"I expect a tough match, but we will be ready," said Haikal, 20, today.
After the China Masters, the Malaysian pair will compete in the Vietnam International Challenge on March 21-16 and the Osaka International Challenge on March 29-April 2.
Earlier, Justin Hoh failed to make the men's singles final after losing 21-12, 21-17 to China's Sun Fei Xiang in the semifinals.
Results-Finals
Men's singles: Sun Fei Xiang (Chi) bt Justin Hoh (Mas) 21-12, 21-17; Sun Chao (Chi) bt Liao Jhuo-Fu (Tai) 21-11, 24-26, 21-16.
Doubles: Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Haikal Nazri (Mas) bt Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsa-Nga (Tha) 21-15, 20-22, 21-15; Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi bt Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe (Mas) 21-12, 21-14.
Women's singles: Lin Hsiang Ti (Chi) bt Dai Wang (Chi) 21-23,21-19, 21-12, Chen Lu (Chi) bt Gao Fang Jie (Chi) 21-18 21-9;
Doubles: Chen Xiao Fei-Feng Xue Ying (Chi) bt Hsieh Pei Shan-Tseng Yu-Chi (Tai) 21-19, 21-12; Keng Shu Liang-Zhang Chi (Chi) bt Bao Li Jing-Guo Yu Xin (Chi) 21-13, 21-15.Mixed Doubles: Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin (Chi) bt Zhang Han Yu-Yang Jia Yi (Chi) 21-8, 21-17; Cheng Xing-Chen Fang Hui (Chi) bt Mao Zhe-Liu Yuan Yuan (Chi) 21-16, 21-14.