SOONG Joo Ven's dream of becoming the Asian Junior badminton champion lived on as he advanced to the boys' singles semi-finals in Gimcheon, South Korea yesterday.
Joo Ven secured a 21-14, 22-20 win over Nanthatheero Nonpakorn of Thailand in the fourth round before registering a hardfought 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory over Yuki Kaneko of Japan in the last eight.
Yuki had already done Joo Ven a favour by toppling pre-tournament favourite Shesar Hiren Rustavito of Indonesia, the second seed, 21-19, 21-18 in the fourth round.
Joo Ven will play surprise semi-finalist Panji Akbar Sudrajat of Indonesia, who beat Wang Tzu Wei of Taiwan 21-13, 21-18, today.
Cheam June Wei bowed out in the fourth round when he lost 21-9, 21-11 to Khosit Phetpradab of Thailand.
Girls' doubles Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean were the other Malaysian representatives in the last four when they battled hard to beat Kim Ji Won-Jung Chae Yoo 13-21, 21-19, 21-18 in 56 minutes.
Mei Kuan-Meng Yean, the third seeds, will take on top seed Lee So Hee-Shin Seung Chan of South Korea, who overcame Oktaviani Melati Daeva-Putri Rosyta Eka of Indonesia 21-6, 21-10, today.
Malaysia's men's doubles challenge folded in the quarter-finals when Tai An Khang-Darren Issac Devadass lost 21-13, 21-15 to Hong Kong's top seeds Ng Ka Long-Lee Chun Hei.
Mixed doubles Tan Wee Gieen-Mei Kuan lost out on a semi-final spot after a disappointing 12-21, 26-24, 21-17 defeat to Vietnam's Do tuan Duc-Lee Thu Huyen in the last eight.
