Latest news with #DutchJuniorInternational
The Star
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Hazwan is one of a kind as he mixes up his coaching role
Giving some pointers: Mixed doubles coach Hazwan Jamaluddin guiding young pair Wee Yee Hern-Chan Wen Tse. PETALING JAYA: Transitioning from coaching men's singles shuttlers to mixed doubles is hard for some people but not Hazwan Jamaluddin. Hazwan was initially worried when he was moved from the junior men's singles coaching role to the mixed doubles in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) at the end of last year. The 40-year-old though has been learning the ropes from mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto and assistant coach Lutfi Zaim and is getting used to his new position. 'I used to play in the men's singles and then I was coaching the junior shuttlers in the event,' said Hazwan. 'When I was moved to mixed doubles, I was worried at first. Thankfully, Nova made it easier for me. 'He assured me that it is not difficult and gave me pointers on managing the pairs under me. Lutfi has also been helping me a lot. 'I've learnt a lot from them. All three of us are working well together. I had to start from zero but I'm taking this as a new challenge.' Among the young pairs under Hazwan are Datu Anif Isaac-Dania Sofea Zaidi and Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan. Both pairs have been fast tracked into the senior team this year and are Malaysia's best bets for medals in the mixed doubles in the Asian Junior Championships from July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia. Anif-Dania showed promise when they finished runners-up in the Dutch Junior International in February while Ziheng-Aqilah captured the national Under-18 title in Ipoh last week after beating their teammates in the final. 'Anif-Dania showed that the gap between them and pairs from China and Indonesia is not big when they reached the final in the Dutch Junior,' said Hazwan. 'Ziheng-Aqilah are also a promising pair and our target is for them and Anif-Dania to win medals in the Asian Juniors. 'We also keep reminding these pairs that they need to continue doing well when they move up to the senior level.'
The Star
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Loh-Noraqilah reap benefits of training with seniors
IPOH: Training with the likes of top mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei has benefitted youngsters Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan. Yesterday, Ziheng-Noraqilah stunned teammates and top seeds Datu Anif Isaac-Dania Sofea Zaidi to capture their maiden title together in the Under-18 National Championships. Anif-Dania, who finished runners-up in the Dutch Junior International in February, were hot favourites to win the crown but Ziheng-Noraqilah fought brilliantly to come away with a 14-16,15-10, 16-14 victory at the Academy Badminton Perak in Ipoh yesterday. Noraqilah was happy to defend the title she won last year with Justin Goh. 'We always train with Anif and Dania, so we know each other's playing style well. We just wanted to play our best and we are happy to win this title,' said Noraqilah, who is from Melaka. 'Ziheng and I played together earlier, then we were split and combined again in February. 'Anif-Dania are currently the top junior pair in the country, so we didn't have any pressure on ourselves. This gave us the freedom to play our game well.' Ziheng, who is 17 just like Noraqilah, believes the pair have improved after training alongside the likes of world No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei and world No. 14 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in the senior set-up. Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pang Ron-Su Yin are currently BAM's No. 1 and No. 2 mixed pair and are only behind world No. 3 independent duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the country. Ziheng-Noraqilah and Anif-Dania have moved up to the senior team and train under coach Hazwan Jamaluddin. 'Training with the seniors like Tang Jie-Ee Wei have benefitted us. It's difficult to train with them as their level is much higher but we are learning a lot from them,' said Ziheng, who was born in Sungai Petani, Kedah. 'Winning this title has really boosted our confidence and we hope to keep getting better after this.' Ziheng-Noraqilah have set their sights next on capturing a medal in the Asian Junior Championships from July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia. The duo are likely Malaysia's best bet to win a medal in the mixed doubles along with Anif-Dania. Meanwhile, Anif and Dania made up for their disappointment of missing out on the mixed crown when they won the boys' and girls' doubles titles respectively. Anif, who was competing for the first time in the boys' doubles event with Damien Ling, had little trouble defeating Negri Sembilan's Heng Hi Zin and Putrajaya's Ethan Joon 15-6, 15-12 for the title. Dania also justified her top seed status with Low Zi Yu by beating teammates Carine Tee-Lee Mun 15-6, 15-7 to win their first Under-18 crown together.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Shuttlers Damien and Datu hope to hit it off in their first partnership
Shuttlers Datu Anif Isaac (front) and Damien Ling making their presence felt in Ipoh. - Ronnie Chin/The Star IPOH: Doubles shuttler Damien Ling hopes to find the right rhythm with new partner Datu Anif Isaac in a bid to emerge as the boys' Under-18 champions in their first tournament together in Ipoh. Both 17, are the top seeds in the under-age national meet and are through to the fourth round after beating Sarawak's Brendon Jong-Roderick Wong 15-7, 15-2 at the Academy Badminton Perak yesterday. Anif and Damien will face Perak's Aison Diong-Ong Chin Hang next in the fifth round. Damien, who is from Putrajaya, is pleased with the positive start with Anif but believes they still have room for improvement. This is the first time that Anif is playing in the boys' doubles as he had been focusing in the mixed doubles with Dania Sofea Zaidi. "Anif and I only started training together two weeks ago when our coach (Hoon Thien How) told us that we will be paired together," said Damien, who played with Pang Khai Zhe before. "I'm excited to play with Anif as he is strong at the back court due to playing in mixed doubles as well. "So far everything is going well for us but we still have much to improve. "We are hoping to give our partnership a boost by winning the title in our first tournament together." Damien grew up idolizing Indonesian great Kenvin Sanjaya and hopes to mimic the latter's entertaining style of play. Kevin formed a hugely successful partnership with Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and the duo were fondly called the minions due to their speed and outrageous skills. Kevin was known for his brilliant front court play and the 17-year-old Damien wants to follow in the former's footsteps. "When I was younger, I loved watching Kevin Sanjaya. His playing style is very interesting," said Damien. "He is so fast and skillful at the front court and he is also mentally strong. hope to emulate him one day." Meanwhile, Anif, who has been doing well in the mixed doubles with Dania is looking forward to playing in two events. The Sabahan finished runners-up with Dania in the Dutch Junior International in March. "Playing in only one event can get a bit boring after a while, so it's interesting to play in the men's doubles too," said Anif. "Playing with Dania and Damien is different as they both have different strengths. "Damien is faster at the front court than me and I will need some time to get used to playing with him."
The Star
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Hoon on lookout for replacements after world junior champs Aaron-Kang join senior rank
Impressive feat: Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing captured the boys' doubles title in the World Junior Championships last year. IPOH: The battle to be the next Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing starts now. Shuttlers Aaron-Khai Xing, who captured the boys' doubles title in the World Junior Championships last year, have moved up to the senior team, leaving a void behind in the junior set-up. Junior doubles coach Hoon Thien How admitted that it will be no easy task to replace Aaron and Khai Xing. 'Aaron and Khai Xing joined BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) when they were 13 while the current batch of players only came in last year and are mostly around 17. 'So, while Aaron-Khai Xing had time to master the basics here, we need to change many aspects of the game in the players currently we have as they are coming into the team much later from the states. 'We have also decided to shake up the partnerships and try out new combinations after unsatisfactory results in a few tournaments. 'We felt there was a gap between our pairs and those from China, South Korea and Japan and we need to make changes before the Asian Junior Championships in July,' added Thien How. Among the new pairs that Thien How is trying out are Datu Anif Isaac-Damien Ling, Isyraf Hafizin-Ungku Mohamed Ungku Ameer and Mohd Shazmir Irfan-Pang Khai Zhe. Anif will be taking on double duty as he will also continue playing in the mixed doubles with Dania Sofea Zaidi. The 17-year-old has proved his potential with Dania and the duo finished runners-up in the Dutch Junior International in March. Thien How feels Anif has what it takes to excel in the boys' doubles too and hopes Damien, who is also 17 and joined BAM last year, will be the right partner for him. 'I saw Anif play in the Dutch Juniors and felt he has the quality to play in boys' doubles too,' said Thien How. 'It's not easy though to get the right partner for him. Damien is capable of playing at the front court while Anif is more adept at the back. 'Both have looked good together in training, so we want to try them out in tournaments and see.' Anif-Damien are the top seeds in the Under-18 National Championships and will be out to justify the faith shown by Thien How in them. Isyraf-Ungku Mohamed Ungku Ameer and Mohd Shazmir Irfan-Khai Zhe are also playing in the tourney and all three pairs will be vying for the title along with others as BAM's search for the next Aaron-Khai Xing begins.
