Defending champions China will meet Malaysia in the final of the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships ©BWF

Defending champions China will meet Malaysia in the final of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Mixed Team Championships after both nations came through their last-four encounters at the Bilbao Arena in Spain today.

China breezed to a 3-0 victory over Japan having been set on their way by a 21-17, 21-16 win for He Jiting and Du Yue against Hiroki Okamura and Nami Matsuyama in the mixed doubles.

Sun Feixiang beat Koki Watanabe 9-21, 21-10, 21-17 in the men’s singles to make it 2-0 to the top seeds and their triumph was sealed when Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong defeated Masayuki Onodera and Hiroki Okamura 21-19, 21-12 in the men’s doubles.

Malaysia were made to work harder for their ticket to the final, coming from behind against Thailand to win 3-1.

Pakin Kuna-Anuvit and Ruethaichanok Laisuan gave Thailand the lead after beating Zi Heng Ooi and Pearly Koong Le Tan 20-22, 22-20, 21-12 in the mixed doubles.

Japan missed out on a place in the final ©BWF
Japan missed out on a place in the final ©BWF

Malaysia came back strongly though and levelled proceedings thanks to Zii Jia Lee’s 21-18, 21-13 win at the expense of Kantaphon Wangcharoen in the men’s singles.

Jin Wei Goh made it 2-1 to Malaysia by defeating Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-12, 21-15 in the women’s singles and their passage through to the final was confirmed courtesy of a 21-18, 21-12 win for Tang Jie Chen and Wei Chong Man against Panachai Worasaktayanan and Warit Sarapat in the men’s doubles.

The team event is scheduled to conclude tomorrow after which the individual event takes centre stage from November 8 to 13.