KUALA LUMPUR: Compound archer Lee Kin Lip reached the Asia Cup Stage Three final in Taipei on Thursday for a timely boost ahead of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games next month.
Two other compound archers remain in contention for a podium finish despite losing in the semi-finals when they shoot for bronze.
Kin Lip, who won a gold medal at the 2015 Sea Games in the men's compound team event, defeated Chen Hsiang-Hsuan of Taiwan 147-145 in the semi-finals to reach his first major tournament final.
The 31-year-old will meet Ebadi Esmaeil on Saturday after the Iranian archer prevented an all-Malaysian final by beating Zulfahli Roslan 144-139.
Kin Lip, who finished sixth in Wednesday's qualifying, improved with each knockout match, starting with a 140-139 win over Hong Kong's Chan Hung King before beating Thailand's Khwanchai Phohiran 142-141 and Majid Gheidi of Iran 143-140.
Zulfadhli, who beat teammate and Stage One and Two runner-up Juwaidi Mazuki 143-142 in the quarter-finals, takes on Chen in the bronze medal playoff.
Also shooting for bronze is Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh in the women's compound event after the 2015 Sea Games three-gold medalist was beaten by India's Diyva Dhayal in a tie-break in the semi-finals.
Fatin was unlucky not to advance to final as both archers shot nines in the tie-break, after regulation arrows ended 149-149, with Dhayal's attempt judged closer to the centre.
In the playoff for bronze, Fatin, who defeated Nurul Syazhera Asmi 143-136 in the last-eight, faces Taiwan's Lin Ming-Ching.
None of the men's or women's recurve archers reached the individual quarter-finals with Sea Games debutant Zarif Syahir Zolkepeli the best among the men, going out in the last-16.
The women's quartet of Nuramalia Haneesha Mazlan, Nur Aliya Ghapar, Nur Afisa Abdul Halil and Loke Shin Hui also exited in the last-16.
However, Zarif and Nur Aliya have a chance of winning a bronze in the mixed recurve team event when they face India on Sunday after losing to South Korea in a tie-break in the semi-finals.
On Friday, the national archers will compete in the team quarter-finals of both the men's and women's compound and recurve events.