Latest news with #Dania-ZiYu
The Star
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Juniors warm up for Indonesia clash with cruise over Myanmar at Asian C'ships
PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and their teammates warmed up for their huge clash against hosts Indonesia in the group stage of the Asian Junior Championships mixed team event today by beating Myanmar. World Junior girls' doubles silver medallists Dania-Zi Yu and Co were hardly troubled and recorded a comfortable 110-52 win over the minnows in their Group B match in Solo, Indonesia, yesterday. It was the team's second win in the tourney after brushing aside Macau 110-59 in their opening group match a day earlier. By the time Dania-Zi Yu entered the court against Myanmar, the team were already holding a 33-18 lead courtesy of wins from Loh Ziheng-Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (mixed doubles), Ziheng-Tan Zhiyang (boys' doubles) and Lim Zhi Shin (girls' singles). Dania-Zi Yu then swiftly made it 44-22 before Lim Boon Le, Razeeq Danial Rosli (boys' singles), Datu Anif Isaac-Nicole Tan (mixed doubles), Damien Ling-Mohd Shazmir Irfan (boys' doubles), Oo Shan Zi (girls' singles) and Nicole Chau-Nur Aina Maisarah (girls' doubles) delivered the other points. The win ensured Malaysia a spot in the quarter-finals and the team will take on Indonesia next in the fight to finish top of the group. RESULTS Group A: Thailand bt Japan 110-101; Taiwan bt Kazakhstan 110-45. Group B: Malaysia bt Myanmar 110-52 (Loh Ziheng-Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan bt Moe Myat-Lin Htet 11-5; Loh Zhiheng-Tan Zhiyang bt Htet Nyan-Ye Htet 22-10; Lim Zhi Shin bt Eaint Poo 33-18; Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu bt Maung Yoon-Thaw Nan 44-22; Lim Boon Le bt Lin Nyan 55-26; Datu Anif Isaac-Nicole Tan bt Moe Myat-Lin Htet 66-30; Damien Ling-Mohd Shazmir Irfan bt Htet Nyan-Tun Yan 77-35; Oo Shan Zi bt Eaint Poo 88-40; Nicole Chau-Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta bt Maung Yoon-Thaw Nan 99-45; Razeeq Danial Roslie bt Lin Nyan 110-52); Indonesia bt Singapore 110-66. Group C: China bt Vietnam 110-58; South Korea bt Philippines 110-105. Group D: Hong Kong bt Sri Lanka 110-95; India bt United Arab
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Quietly confident Noraqilah-Aina aim for Asian Juniors podium
KUALA LUMPUR: While top girls' doubles Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu are expected to hog the limelight, a fresh-faced pair are quietly eyeing a breakthrough at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) in Surakarta, Indonesia. Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, 18, and Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta, 16, are relishing their underdog role ahead of the tournament, which starts with the mixed team event from July 18-22, followed by the individual competition from July 23-27. As Malaysia's No. 2 junior pair, Noraqilah-Aina are happy to let the spotlight stay on Dania-Zi Yu — last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists. "We both know Dania-Zi Yu are the top pair. I think all the attention will be on them," said Noraqilah at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. "For us, there's no pressure. We'll just go out there, give it our best, and show we deserve to be on this stage." Formed only in April after Aina joined the national junior squad, the partnership has already shown promise. In just their second tournament together, they made a surprise run to the final of the Slovak Open in May. They've since reached the quarter-finals at both the Austrian Open and the Malaysia Junior International Challenge. "We weren't expecting to reach the final in Slovakia since we're still a new pair," said Noraqilah. "But for the Asian Juniors, we do have a goal — we want to finish on the podium if possible." Their strong on-court chemistry has been key to their early success. Both bring speed, aggression and solid communication. "We can match each other's pace. We're both quite fast, and we talk well during matches," said Aina. "Even when things go wrong, we find solutions together quickly." The pair, who can switch seamlessly between net and backcourt roles, will start with the mixed team event before turning their attention to the individual competition. With no pressure and plenty of upside, Noraqilah-Aina could just be Malaysia's surprise package in Surakarta.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Shuttlers' dreams rise at Asian Juniors but coach keeps them on guard
PETALING JAYA: The recent fine performances of the junior shuttlers has raised hopes for a positive outing in the Asian Junior Championships but national junior doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang is remaining cautious of his charges' chances in the tournament starting on Friday in Solo, Indonesia. Girls' doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and mixed doubles duo Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan especially are heading into the Asian meet on a high after capturing titles in the Malaysian Junior International Challenge in Perlis last week. Dania-Zi Yu, who bagged silver in the world junior meet last year, are Malaysia's best bets for gold in Solo while Ziheng-Noraqilah have also enhanced their chances for at least a medal with their positive showing at home. Malaysia's other medal hopefuls are likely to be Dania and Datu Anif Asrah in the mixed doubles and Ziheng-Tan Zhi Yang in the boys' doubles after both pairs finished runners-up in Perlis. Cheh Chang though believes his charges will face a tougher challenge in the Asian meet due to the presence of the likes of China, Japan and South Korea, who did not compete in the Malaysian tourney. 'Overall, our players' performances have been okay so far but we haven't met teams like China, Korea, Japan, India and Taiwan,' said Cheh Chang. 'The most important part for us is preparation and team work. We have to go step by step.' Dania-Zi Yu and their teammates will first compete in the mixed team event which will be held from July 18-22 before turning their attentions to the individual event from July 23-27. In the mixed team competition, Malaysia have been placed in Group B along with Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and Myanmar. Only the top two teams in the group will progress to the quarter-finals. In last year's edition, Malaysia won a silver through Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing (boys' doubles) while Siti Zulaikha Azmi (girls' singles), Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting (girls' doubles) and mixed team all contributed bronze medals.
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Make use of Dania, Zi Yu wisely'
KUALA LUMPUR: The inexperienced Malaysian squad will be relying on girls' pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu at the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia from July 18-27. World No. 244 Dania-Zi Yu, who were runners-up at the World Junior Championships last October, are among the remaining members from the previous squad, with boys' doubles Datuk Anif Asrah and girls' doubles Noraqilah Maisarah Radan. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said the coaches need to ensure Dania-Zi Yu are utilised wisely to achieve Malaysia's goal of a podium finish. Zi Yu will also compete in the girls' singles while Sofea is also down to play in the mixed doubles to improve the team's medal chances. "They need to be utilised wisely as the team and individual events in the Asan Juniors are normally taxing," said Rexy. "They will be the first choice for the team event and this will be followed by the individual draw which is a 64-draw and the coaches must mange this well. "Most of the players this year are making their debuts and we are not setting high targets for medals." Sofea-Zi Yu's chances look good as powerhouses China and Japan have entered mostly new faces in the girls' doubles. However, the coaches should consider the 15-year-old Zi Yu's medical condition, hyperthyroidism, before playing her in too many events. Primarily a singles player, Zi Yu switched to the doubles due to her medical condition last year. Thus, it will be wise if the coaches let her focus on the girls' doubles with Sofea where they have a realistic chance of winning gold.
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Dania-Zi Yu spearhead Malaysia's challenge at Asian meet
KUALA LUMPUR: Girls' doubles Dania Sofea-Low Zi Yu will lead Malaysia's challenge at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The team event is from July 18-22 and the individual competition from July 23-27. Dania-Zi Yu, who were last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists, won the Slovak Open earlier this month. Compatriots Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan-Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta, who finished runners-up to Dania-Zi Yu in the Slovak Open, are also in the team to Yogyakarta. The others are Lee Mun, Oo Shan Zi, Eng Ler Qi, Lim Zhi Shin, Nicole Tan-Nicole Chau. The boys' team consist of Razeeq Danial, Ayu Fu Sheng, Kong Wei Xiang, Lim Boon Le, Datu Anif Datu Asrah, Loh Zi Heng, Zulwaqqarizal Ahmad, Damien Ling, Shazmir Shahrul and Tan Zhi Yang. Malaysia last won the mixed team title in 2009 in Kuala Lumpur. The last Malaysian to win the BAJC boys' singles event was Leong Jun Hao in 2017.
