KUALA LUMPUR: As a shuttler who has played in most major finals, Chan Peng Soon is well aware that he is already at the tail-end of his career.
However, the 35-year-old mixed doubles specialist would like to hang up his racquet on a sweet note.
On Saturday at the Titiwangsa Stadium, Peng Soon and his partner, Cheah Yee See, reached their first Open final in six years, after seeing off Taiwan's Chen Zi Ray-Yang Ching Tun 21-10, 22-20 in the semi-finals of the KL Masters. Their last international title was the Russian Open in 2017.
Peng Soon said: "Really happy to reach the final here because it's been so long since Yee See and I reached the final.
"Now in the final, we believe we have a good chance at winning the title. I know it's only a Super 100 tournament, but for Yee See and I who have not been doing so well, it's a huge confidence boost.
"I'm also at the tail-end of my career, I want to enjoy playing and if possible get some good results before I retire."
Peng Soon made his name when he and Goh Liu Ying won the mixed doubles silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Liu Ying has since called it a day but Peng Soon chose to continue playing, believing he still has it in him to make one final appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But with just six months to go before the end of the one-year Olympic qualifying period, the world No. 44 pair know their chances are close to none.
In the KL Masters final on Sunday, Peng Soon-Yee See will play Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul-Phataimas Muenwong.
In the semi-final, the Thai duo downed Malaysia's Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee 21-17, 21-17.
"We haven't played this Thai pair before, so we will have to study their game and prepare well for the final," added Peng Soon.
In the men's doubles, independent duo Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong reached their sixth final this season after defeating South Korea's Kim Young Hyuk-Wang Chan 21-16, 19-21, 21-15.
Hang Yee-Eng Cheong, who won the Mongolia International Challenge crown in July, will play Taiwan's Chen Cheng Kuan-Chen Sheng Fan in the final.
The Taiwanese pair ousted Malaysia's Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub 15-21, 21-15, 21-15 in the last four.