KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is now a step closer towards qualifying for the Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) Junior Finals after winning the BJKC Asia-Oceania pre-qualifying tournament in Kuching, Sarawak over the weekend.

Malaysia, led by Daania Hazli, had no difficulty winning Group C - which also featured Maldives, Pacific Oceania and Mongolia - to advance to the semi-finals, living up to their billing as fourth seeds in the under-16 competition.

There, they upset second seeds Sri Lanka 2-1, with Daania scoring a rain-interrupted 6-2, 6-2 win over Mahathelge Peiris in the singles and later teaming up with Adani Azhari in the doubles to secure a 6-2, 6-0 win over Akeesha Diyunuge-Venuli Jayasinghe.

Adani had earlier lost her singles match to Akeesha 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.