Team China acknowledge their fans before the Sudirman Cup semifinal in Suzhou, China, May 20, 2023. (Photo: CFP)

SUZHOU, China, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Hosts China suffered a huge scare before rallying past Japan 3-2 to reach the final of the Sudirman Cup here on Saturday.

Liu Yuchen and Ou Xuanyi saved China from the brink of defeat as the men's doubles pair clinched a crucial tie when Japan led 2-1 and had four match points in hand.

China lost their opening tie as Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping were stunned by Japan's Kyohei Yamashita and Naru Shinoya in a 106-minute thriller.

China's Feng Yanzhe (L) and Huang Dongping in action during the Sudirman Cup semifinal mixed doubles match in Suzhou, China, May 20, 2023. (Photo: CFP)

The Chinese mixed doubles pair was upset 26-24 in the first set but clawed back 21-18 in the second. In the decider, however, Feng and Huang missed two match points to lose 24-22.

"We were actually leading all the way in the latter part of the third set, and I had a lot of chances but we dropped it. I think I should have been a bit more patient," said Feng.

Shi Yuqi recovered from one set down to beat Kodai Naraoka 13-21, 21-15, 12-17 in the men's singles and made it 1-1 before Olympic women's singles champion Chen Yufei lost to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.

China's Shi Yuqi celebrates after beating Japan's Kodai Naraoka during their men's singles semi-final match at the 2023 Sudirman Cup world badminton championships in Suzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu province on May 20, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

Liu and Ou became the key men today. The young pair lost their first set 21-17 before claiming the second 21-19. Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi showed strength to lead 20-16 in the third set but were turned back by Liu and Ou 22-20 when Japan were one step away from the final.

With such morale and cheering from the home crowds, world No. 1 women's pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan thrashed Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota in straight sets to seal the win.

China's Chen Qingchen(R) and Jia Yifan hit a return against Japan's Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota during their women's doubles semi-final match at the 2023 Sudirman Cup world badminton championships in Suzhou in China's eastern Jiangsu province on May 20, 2023. (Photo: AFP)

"We are very happy to have taken the match, we did our job today and didn't let the fans down at home with the men's doubles," said Liu.

"I didn't think I could play like that before, but I gave it my all," Ou added.

Ou Xuanyi (L) and Liu Yuchen of China in action during the Sudirman Cup semifinal men's doubles match in Suzhou, China, May 20, 2023. (Photo: CFP)

China, the most successful team in tournament history, have won 12 of the past 17 editions and never missed the final since 1993.

Saturday's triumph means China have made to the final 15 times in a row, and the hosts will contend for the title with four-time winner South Korea, who knocked out Malaysia 3-1 earlier on Saturday.

The final of the week-long tournament will take place on Sunday.