KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Malaysia are through to the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC).
On Saturday, the men's team defeated Japan 3-1 in the semi-finals at the Setia City Convention Centre in Selangor.
Former All England champion Lee Zii Jia, who sat out of Friday's quarter-finals (against Singapore) with a sinus problem, drew first blood when he made easy work of Kenta Nishimoto 21-18, 21-15.
Former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik doubled the lead when they carved out a 15-21, 21-17, 21-10 win against Akira Koga-Taichi Saito.
It could have been a clean sweep, but former Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao couldn't seal the tie.
Despite fighting tooth and nail until the very end, Jun Hao succumbed 19-21, 21-12, 21-19 to Koki Watanabe, allowing Japan back into the tie.
Men's doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made sure there was no need for a fifth and deciding match when they saw off world No. 30 Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura 21-15, 21-19
Malaysia will face China or South Korea for the crown on Sunday.