GEORGE TOWN, Jan 24 — Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin nearly gave up badminton last year after failing to win an international events but a heart-to-heart talk with Lee Chong Wei changed his mind.

Yesterday, he took a giant step towards repaying the former world No 1 when he reached the final of the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold after beating India’s K Srikanth 27-25, 21-9.

He will meet his idol in the final after Chong Wei defeated Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto 21-19, 21-15.

“All my life, I had been watching him play and having him as a mentor is something I would appreciate forever,” said Iskandar.

“I wouldn’t be here if it was not for him. I wanted to quit last year but he convinced me not to give up.”

On his win against Srikanth, Iskandar said he played through the pain barrier as he had a slight leg injury.

“It wasn’t easy and I had to grit my teeth and go all out,” he said.

“I really wanted to reach my first final and I have done so.”

Chong Wei said he was happy to play Iskandar and described him as a “brother” with big talent.

“We have trained together for years and soon I will be retiring. It is a good opportunity for us. I always wish him the best and hope he will maintain his spirit to be a good player,” said Chong Wei.

There was more joy for Malaysia as Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and mixed pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing also advanced to the finals of their respective events.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will meet Indonesia’s Fernaldi Gideon Marcus-Sukamuljo Kevin Sanjaya after beating Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang from South Korea 15-21, 21-18, 21-16.

Kian Meng-Pei Jing upset compatriots Chan Peng Soon-Liu Ying Goh 21-17, 21-16 and will face China’s China’s Zheng Siwei-Li Yinhui for the title.

India’s PV Sindhu pulled off a stunning upset when she defeated top seed Sung Ji-hyun of South Korea in the women’s singles semifinals.

Sindhu, the third seed, had to work hard before winning in 21-19, 12-21, 21-10 in 69 minutes.

“I am happy to be in the final. She played well. I could have won in straights games but I kept making lots of mistakes,” said the 20-year-old.

“Luckily, I came back in the third game.”

Sindhu, who recently completed her degree in communication, is training under Pullela Gopichand and is eyeing a place in the Rio Olympic.

Sindhu will face Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the final.

Gilmour survived a 62-minute match against seventh seeded Yui Hashimoto of Japan before winning 12-21, 21-18, 21-8.

China’s women’s doubles and sixth seeded, Tang Yuanting-Yu Yang also marched into the final after upsetting second seeded Chang Ye-na-Lee So-hee of South Korea 21-12, 21-18.

The Chinese duo will face Japanese world No 4 Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi in the final.

The Japanese duo disposed of another Chinese doubles pair Du Yue-Li Yinhui 21-12, 22-20 in the other semifinal.