Latest news with #MalaysianJuniorInternationalChallenge
The Star
2 days ago
- 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.
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.
