KUALA LUMPUR: Top junior pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing are just one win away from securing their biggest career title after advancing to the final of the Thailand International Challenge.
Aaron-Khai Xing, both 17 years old, continued their impressive form this week, defeating Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Liu Kuang Heng 21-12, 22-20 in the semi-finals in Korat on Saturday.
However, hopes of seeing an all-Malaysian final were dashed as Jimmy Wong-Lwi Sheng Hao failed to get past Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
Jimmy-Sheng Hao went down tamely 21-13, 21-14 to the world No. 58.
It will be interesting to see how Aaron-Khai Xing stack up against Peeratchai-Pakkapon.
In January, the Thais finished runners-up at the Thailand Masters, upstaging the likes of top 20 pairs Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin of Indonesia and Japan's Akira Koga-Taichi Saito.
Aaron-Khai Xing will not be short of experience playing in the title-deciding matches as they have had experiences from recent finals, albeit in junior-level events.
They won the Dutch Junior International and were runners-up at the German Junior Open.
BAM junior development coach Jeffer Rosobin believes the world No. 167 Aaron-Khai Xing have what it takes to upset the form book.
"To compete at senior level, they definitely need to have a certain level of speed and power. I have seen them improve tremendously, and their game is also more stable and consistent," said Jeffer.
"They have a chance tomorrow, and let's hope they go on and achieve it."