China and Indonesia will meet for the title at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships in Kazan ©BWF

Defending champions China survived a scare as they battled to a 3-2 win over Japan to reach the final of the Badminton World Federation World Junior Mixed Team Championships in Kazan.

China were staring a semi-final exit in the face when Japan moved to within one victory of booking a place in the final at Kazan Gymnastics Centre.

But victories for Lin Yijing and Tan Ning in the women's doubles, and Di Zijian and Wang Chang in the men's doubles, sent China through to tomorrow's showpiece.

Lin and Tan overcame Rui Hirokami and Mizuki Otake 21-12, 17-21, 25-23 before Di and Wang beat Yoshifumi Fujisawa and Kakeru Kumagai 15-21, 21-18, 21-15.

The semi-finals took centre stage today ©BWF
The semi-finals took centre stage today ©BWF

China's opponents in the final will be top seeds Indonesia, who edged out Thailand by the same scoreline in another tense semi-final.

Indonesia were twice pegged back by their Thai opponents, sending the match to a deciding mixed doubles rubber.

Daniel Marthin and Indah Cahya Sari Jamil claimed a 21-10, 21-17 victory against Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Phittayaporn Chaiwan to ensure Indonesia joined China in the final.