Latest news with #AsianJuniors
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Poor results at Asian Juniors get ex-coaches Tat Meng and Mee Fen all worried
PETALING JAYA: Former coaches Wong Tat Meng and Ng Mee Fen have called for an honest review into the shuttlers' poor performance at the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia. Malaysia came home empty-handed from the tournament which ended on Sunday, a repeat of their 2023 edition in Yogyakarta. Tat Meng, who was singles coach in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) from 2003 to 2011 and 2013 to 2016 and Mee Fen, who was a junior coach in the national team for four years, expressed their concern via social media over the disappointing outing, especially in the singles. None of the players in the boys' and girls' singles even made it to the quarter-finals in the individual event. 'Am I the only one who wonders what happened to our junior players' performance in the Asian Junior meet in Solo?' questioned Mee Fen. 'It's worrisome especially in the singles department. Most of our current senior players can play for another Olympic cycle but we have yet to identify the junior players who can replace the seniors in five years' time. 'Challenging times ahead for the juniors and hopefully actions will be taken to improve the standard of the players before it's too late.' Tat Meng, who responded to Mee Fen's post, said: 'Thanks for raising this. You're definitely not the only one concerned. 'I'm actually here in Solo watching the Asian Junior meet and I have to say, it was disappointing and quite sad to see that none of our singles players made it to the quarter-finals. 'Even though I'm no longer based in Malaysia, I still care deeply, especially having been part of the national coaching set-up in the past. 'It really makes me question what has been going wrong with our junior development system for the past how many years? I don't know. 'We have talent, no doubt, but something fundamental isn't translating into results at the international level. 'It's time for an honest review and a clear long-term direction. Otherwise, we risk an even more serious gap in our singles department moving forward,' added Tat Meng. Siti Zulaikha Azmi offered the one bright spot for the girls' singles when she won bronze in last year's Asian Juniors but the last boys' singles medallist for Malaysia was Leong Jun Hao, who captured gold in 2017. In the girls' singles, Goh Jin Wei was the last Malaysian to win a medal when she triumphed in 2018.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
How to lose fear and beat Chinese: Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla learn valuable lessons in defeat, picking bronze at Asian Junior Championships
Anyone who is anybody in badminton in the last two decades from the continent, has a medal from the Asian Junior Championships, an event the Chinese set a lot of store by. So, when Tanvi Sharma and Vennala Kalagotla picked bronzes in the latest edition on Saturday at Solo, Indonesia, losing to two Chinese in the semis, it cranked back into active-mode the wheel of women's singles in Indian badminton – 13 years after PV Sindhu last won the title. Vennala, hailing from the same railway colony in Secunderabad as Sindhu once did, is even built rangy and tall like the senior pro, standing at 5 foot-8 inches at 17. While Sharma has been making waves in seniors, the Hyderabad shuttler Vennala, was a revelation with her mix of outrageous reflexive defense and a proper power smash. The Chinese opponent, Liu Si Ya could not be tamed in the 21-15, 21-18 loss, but Vennala made a match of it saving three match points and showing solid prospects with her surprisingly combative game this week. Partnering Anmol Kharb in doubles when she won the Krishna Khaitan event, Vennala is a daughter of a Railways ticket collector, also a ball badminton player. The team sport, quite popular in the south of India and mighty fun to play, has some seriously good athletes in southern Railways teams, and Vennala along with her brother, were packed off to shuttle badminton that has consolidated as a culture in Hyderabad's sports clubs. She started at 8, and moved to Pullela Gopichand Academy subsequently. 'I was bored sitting at home, so we were packed off to play badminton 800 metres from my Railway colony home. My father wants us to win at the Olympics. I play doubles too but focus is on singles,' she said. 'It's my first medal in internationals but I could have played better,' she says. The Chinese turn up at their best at the Asian Juniors, and Vennala said she realised she ought to have pushed a gear in the semis. 'After the match I realised I should have played faster and more aggressive.' Determined to keep the shuttle in play, she had told herself not to try any adventurous strokes. She candidly says she's not big on academics. 'I think studies are a big burden, but I love playing other sports – swimming, TT, and painting.' For Tanvi, who trains at the National Centre in Guwahati, it was an amazing run till the semis, where far too many unforced errors brought about a 21-13, 21-14 loss to another Chinese Yin Yi Qing. A 6-1 lead in the second set was not enough to hold off the opponent, a former World Juniors silver medallist with good smashes and net deceptions. 'It's great to win a medal after 13 years at Asian. I played well but made quite a few unforced errors.' The two Indians are similar not just in winning bronzes, but their sporty background too. While Tanvi's mother is a volleyball player, Vennala's father aced ball badminton. 'It's a different sport, team sport, but has some similar strokes. It helps to have an athlete parent, because they understand the pressure and don't scold. You become sporty and stay confident even if you lose unexpectedly,' Vennala said, while Tanvi added, 'We get motivated to give our best watching them.' While Tanvi reckons Vennala's defense and aggressive smashes are particularly piercing, the taller shuttler says, 'I love Tanvi's forehand cross drops and half smashes. But she gets disappointed easily if she loses a few points in a row. My advice to her will be to keep chin up,' she says. Facing the Chinese can be a daunting experience, but the Indians have their own takeaways from the Asian semis. 'It's my first semis so I was overwhelmed. But it wasn't as tough as I expected,' Tanvi said. 'We just fear their name, but they are OK only. Yes physically I thought I was weaker, so I will focus on it.' For Vennala, the opponent was temperamentally sturdy. 'I think they are just strong by mind. They win on mental strength,' she said. Both Tanvi and Vennala were looking forward to celebrating bronze with one cheat meal. 'Ice cream!' they chorused.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Aina won't let tender years stop her from big aims
PETALING JAYA: Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta is one of the youngest shuttlers in the Malaysian team headed to the Asian Junior Championships which starts on Friday in Solo, Indonesia, but she is not letting that stop her from aiming big in the tourney. The 15-year-old, who is set to compete in both the girls' doubles and mixed doubles with Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and Irfan Shazmir respectively, is out to win a medal in her debut Asian meet. Aina and Nuraqilah only combined in April but did not take long to impress by finishing runners-up to teammates and last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu in the Slovak Open in May. While all attention has been on Dania-Zi Yu, Aina and the 18-year-old Nuraqilah have gone under the radar but this suits them just fine as they look to produce a good show in Solo. 'I'm one of the youngest in the Asian Juniors team but I want to prove myself by doing well,' said Aina, after a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday. 'I know that expectations are higher on Dania-Zi Yu as they are our top girls' doubles pair and the pressure is less on me and Nuraqilah. 'We will use this as an advantage. We want to show that we can step up too. We want to go as far as possible and try to win a medal.' Meanwhile, Nuraqilah, who has been chosen as the team captain along with Datu Anif Isaac, is ready to shoulder the responsibility to support her teammates and guide her younger partner in the tourney. 'I know I have more responsibilities as I'm older than Aina and need to guide her. I was also surprised to be chosen as team captain. I hope to justify the coaches' selection,' said Nuraqilah. 'The coaches decided to combine me and Aina to see if we could play well together. The Slovak Open was only our second tournament together, so we didn't expect to reach the final. 'Both of us are fast on court, so we could match each other's rhythm and gel well. 'We discuss a lot on where to improve on and our understanding is getting better.''
The Star
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Dania-Zi Yu get timely boost for Asian meet after winning in Kangar
Dynamic duo: Dania Sofea (left) and Low Zi Yu. — BAM PETALING JAYA: A title win at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge has given Dania Sofea Zaidi and Low Zi Yu the perfect boost ahead of the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia from July 18-27. The win was especially meaningful for Dania, who had earlier fallen short in the mixed doubles final with Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah despite going in as the top seeds in Kangar, Perlis yesterday. Dania-Datu lost 22-20, 15-21, 12-21 to compatriots Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah in a 54-minute duel. But the Johor-born shuttler made amends in the girls' doubles final when she and Zi Yu outplayed Thailand's Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom 21-11, 21-19 to lift the title. 'I just gave my best. Of course, there's pressure going into the Asian Juniors because the coaches are expecting Zi Yu and I to deliver, especially after we finished runners-up at the World Junior Championships last year. But I'm embracing the pressure,' said Dania. Top seeds Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang failed to add more titles for Malaysia when they fell to Indonesia's Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka 21-18, 19-21, 20-22 in the boys' doubles final. All eyes will now be on Dania in Solo, where she will play in the girls', mixed doubles and mixed team events. Dania-Zi Yu have been seeded second in the girls' doubles, while Dania-Datu will also go in as the second seeds in the mixed doubles. In the team event, Malaysia have been seeded sixth behind Thailand, India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan. FINAL RESULTS Boys' singles: Tonrug Saeheng (Tha) bt Ip Sum Yau (Hkg) 21-18, 15-21, 21-17. Boys' doubles: Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka (Ina) bt Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Ying (Mas) 21-18, 19-21, 20-22. Girls' singles: Lam Ka To (Hkg) bt radith Bayu Wardhana (Ina) 21-8, 21-9. Girls' doubles: Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi (Mas) bt Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom (Tha) 21-11, 21-19. Mixed doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Datu Anif Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea Zaidi 20-22, 21-15, 21-12.
The Star
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Dania-Zi Yu get timely boost for Asian meet after smashing show in Kangar
Solid girls: Shuttlers Dania Sofea Zaidi and Low Zi Yu win at the Malaysia Junior International Challenge. PETALING JAYA: A title win at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge has given Dania Sofea Zaidi and Low Zi Yu the perfect boost ahead of the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia from July 18-27. The win was especially meaningful for Dania, who had earlier fallen short in the mixed doubles final with Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah despite going in as the top seeds in Kangar, Perlis yesterday. Dania-Datu were beaten by compatriots Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah 22-20, 15-21, 12-21 in a 54-minute duel. But the Johor-born shuttler made amends in the girls' doubles final when she and Zi Yu outplayed Thailand's Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom 21-11, 21-19 to lift the title. "I just gave my best. Of course, there's pressure going into the Asian Juniors because the coaches are expecting Zi Yu and I to deliver, especially after we finished runners-up at the World Junior Championships last year. But I'm embracing the pressure,' said Dania. Top seeds Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang failed to add more titles for Malaysia when they fell to Indonesia's Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka 21-18, 19-21, 20-22 in the boys' doubles final. All eyes will now be on Dania in Solo, where she will play in the girls', mixed doubles and mixed team events. Dania-Zi Yu have been seeded second in the girls' doubles, while Dania-Datu will also go in as the second seeds in the mixed doubles. In the team event, Malaysia have been seeded sixth behind Thailand, India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan. Boys' singles: Tonrug Saeheng (Tha) bt Ip Sum Yau (Hkg) 21-18, 15-21, 21-17. Boys' doubles: Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka (Ina) bt Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Ying (Mas) 21-18, 19-21, 20-22. Girls' singles: Lam Ka To (Hkg) bt radith Bayu Wardhana (Ina) 21-8, 21-9. Girls' doubles: Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi (Mas) bt Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom (Tha) 21-11, 21-19. Mixed doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Datu Anif Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea Zaidi 20-22, 21-15, 21-12.
