KUALA LUMPUR: Leong Jun Hao reached his maiden men’s singles final at the Malaysia International Challenge on Saturday.
The 18-year-old, a runner-up at the World Junior Championships, clawed back from a game down to stun Indonesia's Firman Abdul Kholik 16-21, 21-19, 22-20 in Pasir Gudang.
Jun Hao, whose previous best achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the Singapore International Series (in September), said: "I really did not expect to come this far.
“If you remember the draw, I was drawn to play top seed Yu Igarashi of Japan in the second round. My focus was only to play well in every match.
"I'm extremely happy because this is my first senior tournament since the world junior meet last month,” he said.
He plays compatriot and former national No 2 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the final on Sunday.
Iskandar upset fifth seed Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam 14-21, 21-17, 21-17 in the other semi-final match.
"I am confident going into tomorrow’s final, but let's not jump the gun. I will give my best and let's see what happens," added Jun Hao, who is the reigning Asian junior champion.
In the men’s doubles, Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen made the final following a 21-18, 15-21, 21-14 win over Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Frengky Wijaya Putra.
The Malaysians play compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who defeated Japan's Masato Takano-Yoshiki Tsukamoto 11-21, 21-19, 24-22.
In the women's doubles, Lim Chiew Sien-Yap Zhen were no match for second seeds Misato Aratama-Akane Watanabe of Japan, going down 21-11, 21-8 in the semi-finals.
In the mixed doubles, Malaysia’s K.Yogendran and India's Prajakta Sawant reached the final by ousting Indonesia's Yantoni Edy Saputra-Marsheilla Gischa Islami 16-21, 21-16, 23-21.
Yogendran-Prajakta play Japan's Hiroki Okamura-Naru Shinoya for the crown.