Calibre duo: Kang Khai Xing (left) and Aaron Tai lived up to their top billing to win the world junior doubles title on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: National junior head coach Jeffer Rosobin is backing newly crowned world junior champions Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing to blossom into a strong pair at the senior level.
Aaron-Khai Xing justified their top seed status in the boys’ doubles by beating China’s Asian Junior winners Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi 21-18, 15-21, 21-18 in a thrilling final on Sunday to end Malaysia’s six-year wait for a champion in the tournament.
Goh Jin Wei was the last Malaysian before this to win gold when she captured the girls’ singles crown in 2018.
Aaron-Khai Xing were also the first Malaysians since Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi in 2011 to win the boys’ doubles title.
After seeing his charges end their junior career in the best possible way, Jeffer wants them to continue to develop into a top pair.
“Aaron-Khai Xing were more focused, brave and consistent and this helped them win the title,” said Jeffer.
“I hope they can become even better at the senior level. They have what it takes to become a top pair.”
Aaron-Khai Xing have already proved that they have the potential to grow into a fearsome combination when they captured their first senior title in the Thailand International Challenge in March.
The duo have also started competing in World Tour Super 300 and 500 competitions this year and are currently ranked No. 72 in the world.
Aaron-Khai Xing will next play in the Malaysia Super 100 tourney, which starts today at Stadium Juara.
Meanwhile, Jeffer was also pleased with girls’ doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu’s silver medal win in the world junior meet.
Zi Yu, who is only 14, and Dania, who turns 17 next month, were competing in their first international tournament together but showed maturity beyond their years to reach the final.
The pair stunned China’s top seeds Chen Fan Shutian-Liu Jiayue in the last four to become the first girls’ doubles pair since Pearly Tan-Toh Ee Wei in 2018 to make it to the final.
Despite going down 17-21, 17-21 to Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki in the final, it was still a promising show from Dania-Zi Yu.
“Overall, it was an extraordinary performance from our players in this World Juniors,” said Jeffer.
“Zi Yu is only 14 but she could enter the final and win silver. She and Dania are very talented and have the potential to become a good pair in the future.”
Overall, it was a good campaign for Malaysia in the tournament as the players also won a bronze in the mixed team event.
