Malaysia's six-year wait for medals at the Asian Junior Championships has come to an end, as the national juniors secured at least three medals this year.

On Friday, the top boys’ doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing, girls’ singles player Siti Zulaikha Azmi, and girls’ doubles duo Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee won their quarter-final matches, guaranteeing bronze in their respective events at the Among Rogo Sports Hall.

Malaysia had not won any medals in the 2019 and 2023 editions, with no tournaments held in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Top seeds Aaron and Khai Xing triumphed over China’s Xiao Gaobo and Xue Ziyu 21-13 21-14, setting up a semi-final clash against Taiwan’s Chen Hung-ming and Tsai Cheng-han.

Second-seeded Zulaikha defeated Taiwan’s Huang Sheng-chun 21-15 23-21, and will face China’s third seed Xu Wenjing in the semi-finals. Zulaikha aims to be the first Malaysian to win a girls’ singles medal since Eoon Qi Xuan’s bronze in 2017.

The biggest surprise came from seventh seeds Carmen and Xin Yee, who overcame Indonesia’s Isyana Syahira and Rinjani Kwinara 23-21 16-21 21-15. They will next face China’s third seeds Chen Fanshutian and Liu Jiayue. This victory marked Carmen and Xin Yee’s first win against the Indonesian pair after two previous defeats.

Carmen and Xin Yee hope to surpass the achievement of Pearly Tan and Toh Ee Wei, who won a silver medal in girls’ doubles in 2018. The last Malaysian boys’ doubles pair to win bronze at the tournament were Ng Tze Yong and Chia Wei Jie in 2017.