Malaysia have one gold medal in the bag at the 2021 SEA Games after Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee won their respective matches in resilient fashion to set-up an all-Malaysian mixed doubles showdown on Sunday.
Chen-Peck recovered from a game down to upset top seeds Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari 20-22, 21-13, 21-18.
The Malaysians had shown immense fighting spirit and immense character in the closing stages of their matches in this individual event.
They withstood pressure to come away victors against their Singaporean opponents in the quarter-finals, and did the same against Rivaldy-Mentari.
Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See were also in top form as they also recovered from a game down, losing the opener 18-21.
Hoo-Cheah won the next two 21-16, 21-17 to ensure the Malaysian contingent would occupy the top two podium finishes.
Their progression to the final meant Malaysia would better its achievement in the mixed doubles compared to the 2019 edition, which saw Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai only settle for silver.
Cheah couldn't make it two finals after she and Cheng Su Hui lost 16-21, 6-21 to Benyapa-Nuntakarn Aimsaard in the women's doubles.
