Shuttler Low set to reach a high thanks to family and partner Dania

The Star

26-04-2025

Future stars in the making: Low Zi Yu (right) and Dania Sofea Zaidi in action during the Under-18 National Championships.— RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: Sporting talent runs in rising shuttler Low Zi Yu's blood.
Zi Yu made her presence felt when she became the youngest finalist in the World Junior Championships after winning silver with Dania Sofea Zaidi last October.
The Johor lass achieved the feat when she was just 14 years and 53 days old. Previously, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon was the youngest at 14 years and 269 days old when she reached the 2009 girls' singles final in Alor Star.
Zi Yu has credited her family for her sporting genes.
Her father Darren Low was a former Johor state badminton and tennis player while her mother Linda Tan plays tennis socially.
Zi Yu's brother Low Cheng Wei also played badminton and tennis while her sister Low Zi Xuan played netball.
'Growing up in a sporting family helped me to become a badminton player. My family supports me a lot in this journey,' said Zi Yu.
'My father played badminton and tennis. When I was three, my father gave me a racquet and I started playing the sport.
'My father said I had the talent and he encouraged me to go for training. I trained in Segamat under my father's friend Wee Hock Leng.'
Zi Yu shared that her friendship with Dania, who is also from Johor played an important role in the duo's rise to become one of the most promising doubles pairs in the country.
'I knew Dania since I was nine as we were both from the Johor state team. We became friends and this helped our understanding on court,' said Zi Yu.
'We complement each other well as she is good at intercepting the shuttle at the front court and create opportunities for me to attack.
'She also guides me on strategies and encourages me a lot.'
The 17-year-old Dania joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) this year while Zi Yu, who is still part of the Johor state team, joins her partner for training in the national set-up before tournaments.
Zi Yu's main target this year is to win gold with Dania in both the Asian (July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia) and world junior meets (Oct 6-19) in Guwahati, India.
Yesterday Zi Yu stayed on course for the girls' doubles title when she combined well with Dania to beat Lee Joinne-Nicole Tan 15-7, 15-11 to set up a final date against teammates Carine Tee-Lee Mun.