All credit should go to the pair for putting up a commendable performance before losing 12-21, 22-20, 16-21 to the Japanese duo in a one hour battle at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

After losing the first game, the rising national women’s doubles pair stepped up a gear as they fought neck-and-neck to drag the match into a rubber game.

However, the unseeded pair, who are making their All England debut, failed to get their game going this time and succumbed to the fifth seeds.

Nami-Chiharu will now take on compatriots Mayu Matsutomo-Wakana Nagahara today for a place in the final on Sunday.

Earlier, top men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia upset world No 1 Kento Momota of Japan to reach the semifinals of the world’s oldest badminton tournament.

Zii Jia beat top seed Momota 21-16, 21-19 in 55 minutes to set up a date with Mark Caljouw of Holland today.

Malaysia’s remaining challenge will hinge on two mixed doubles pairs, with Rio 2016 Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying locking horns with Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing taking on Japan’s Yuta Watanebe-Arisa Higashino later today.