The world No 14 pair, who announced their decision to end their seven-year partnership in August, made a U-turn a month later and agreed to have a final fling in Huelva, Spain after making the 48-pair cut based on the list of qualifiers released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

The 32-year-olds will now return to team up with their new partners Low Juan Shen and Tan Kian Meng.

Malaysia’s hope for glory at the world meet now hinges solely on another independent pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who stunned Tokyo Olympics champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan 12-21, 21-17, 21-15 in the quarterfinals yesterday.

Yew Sin-Ee Yi are slated to face fifth seeds Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in the last four later today.

Last night, a blister on the right foot ended men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia’s challenge in the last eight after he retired while trailing Dane Anders Antonsen 21-12, 8-21, 1-11.

His coach Hendrawan said Zii Jia tried to complete the match but the excruciating pain forced the reigning All England champion to call it quits.

“Yesterday, after his match against Anders, his foot was bleeding because of the blister and he complained that it still hurts,” he said.

It was also the end of the road for mixed pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, the 10th seeds, after going down 21-15, 21-13 to second seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand.