Ee Yi-Yew Sin booked their berth after stunning third-seeded Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin 12-21, 21-17, 21-15 in 65 minutes.

In picking up their first win in four meetings against the Taiwanese pair, the world No 12 Ee Yi-Yew Sin became the first men’s pair from Malaysia since 2010 silver medallists Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to qualify for the last four.

The duo’s efforts mean Malaysia will not return from Huelva empty-handed as the losing semifinalists still get awarded bronze medals, although Yew Sin wants more.

“We cannot be satisfied with what we have done. Just one or two steps more (to get better results). We are not thinking about the medal colour just yet,” he told the Badminton World Federation.

Tomorrow’s semifinal will see Ee Yi-Yew Sin take on fifth seeds Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.

World No 7 men’s singles star Lee Zii Jia, meanwhile, bowed out after retiring injured against Dane Anders Antonsen.

For the record, Malaysia have never produced a world champion in badminton.