Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen won a tough battle in Doha on Friday to enable China to secure the gold of the badminton women's doubles at the 15th Asian Games.
World number two Yang and Zhang, failing to compete with Japanese Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota in long rallies, lost the first set 20-22.
But the Athens Olympic champions recollected themselves later and won the next two sets 21-16, 21-9.
"We performed poorly yesterday," said Yang. "So we made lots of preparation for today's semifinal."
In Thursday's quarterfinals, the second-seeded Yang and Zhang needed to fight three sets to beat unseeded Lita Nurlita and Vita Marissa from Indonesia.
"The Japanese pair lost several times to us, so they had nothing to lose today," said Zhang. "We were ready to play a three- set battle today. Therefore, we didn't feel much pressure after losing the first set."
In the other semifinal taking place simultaneously, top-seeded Gao Ling and Huang Sui of China overcame their arch-rivals Lee Kyung Won and Lee Hyo Jung from South Korea 21-16, 21-12.
The 27-year-old Gao might be the most tired shuttler at Doha Asian Games. Two hours before she winning the final berth in the women's doubles, the two-time mixed doubles Olympic champion successfully obtained a mixed doubles final place with new partner Zheng Bo.
Less than three hours later, the 27-year-old Gao will combined with Zheng to vie against their teammates Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen in the mixed doubles final.