KUALA LUMPUR: Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn was overjoyed after finally ending his long wait to reach a World Tour Super 1000 final.

Kunlavut has built a reputation as a big tournament player, notably capturing the 2023 world title and winning silver in the 2024 Paris Olympics but a Super 1000 final appearance proved elusive for him before this.

The 24-year-old ended his wait in style by beating Indonesia’s world No. 4 Jonatan Christie 21-16, 21-16 in the Malaysian Open semi-finals at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Saturday (Jan 10).