KUALA LUMPUR: Independent mixed doubles pair Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing are one win away from their maiden title after battling into their seventh final of the year at the Korea Masters on Saturday.
The world No. 37 were made to work hard before edging South Korea‘s world No. 213 An Yun Seong-Lee Yu Lim 21-14, 19-21, 21-15 in a tough 59-minute semi-final in Iksan.
Yun Seong-Yu Lim threatened an upset when they clawed back five straight points from 16-19 down to snatch the second game 21-19, but Jimmy-Pei Jing showed great composure in the decider to seal victory and keep their title hopes alive.
Their seventh final appearance is also the best by any Malaysian pair on the BWF circuit this year, albeit in the lower-tier tournaments.
Men’s doubles world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and women’s doubles world No. 2 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have each reached six finals this season, all in Super 500 and above events.
However, Jimmy-Pei Jing have lost all six of their previous finals and will be eager to finally break their duck when they take on the experienced South Korean scratch pair Kim Jae Hyeon-Jeong Na Eun in Sunday’s final.
Jae Hyeon-Na Eun advanced after defeating their compatriots Wang Chan-Kim Yu Jung 21-19, 21-10 in the other semi-final.
Na Eun is no stranger to success, having won mixed doubles silver with Kim Won Ho at the Paris Olympics last year.
Won Ho has since shifted focus to men’s doubles with Seo Seung Jae, where they are now world No. 1, while Na Eun currently sits world No. 21 in women’s doubles with Lee Yeon Woo.
Jae Hyeon, a former partner of Olympic champion Lee Yong Dae, is currently ranked world No. 130 in men’s doubles with Lee Sang Won.
Pei Jing, herself a former world No. 5 with Tan Kian Meng, will be hoping to rediscover her best form and finally capture a long-overdue title with Jimmy on Sunday.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
