KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian men's badminton team are assured of at least a bronze medal at the Hanoi Sea Games, after checking into the semi-finals today.
Following a closely contested tie with hosts Vietnam, the young Malaysian side emerged triumphant with a 3-1 win.
Malaysia will face neighbours Singapore, led by reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew, in the last four on Tuesday.
The other semi-finals will see defending champions Indonesia take on Thailand, who defeated the Philippines 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Malaysia, who won the team silver at the previous edition in Manila, found themselves trailing 1-0, when veteran shuttler Nguyen Tien Minh got the better of debutant Jacky Kok 21-14, 24-26, 21-7.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who clinched the Syed Modi International title earlier this year, levelled the score when they saw off Do Tuan Duc-Pham Hong Nam 21-8, 20-22, 21-18.
In another tight match, Lee Shun Yang gave Malaysia the lead for the first time when he too dug deep before carving out a 21-19, 27-25 win over Le Duc Phat.
Malaysia secured the tie through Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Haikal Nazri, fondly known as the Patatimo Boys, after they clawed back from a game down to notch a 15-21, 21-12, 22-20 win over Nguyen Dinh Hoang-Tran Dinh Manh.