Latest news with #NationalUnder-18Championships
New Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Hafiz Hashim is back in town
KUALA LUMPUR: Is Hafiz Hashim courting BAM to return as a coach? Hafiz, who has announced on social media that his stint as a coach with Suchitra Badminton Academy in Hyderabad has ended, was spotted at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) last week as the former All England champion is currently on holiday with his family in Malaysia. BAM is currently on the lookout for a national women's singles coach, and 2015 Sea Games champion Chong Wei Feng has appeared to be the prime candidate. Hafiz said that his visit to ABM was to meet some of his former players, and he has not approached BAM for a coaching offer nor did he apply for one. However, Hafiz said that he is open to offers from either in India or in Malaysia, including BAM, though he wanted to be stationed in Hyderabad for the time being. National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has already met with Wei Feng during the National Under-18 Championships in Ipoh last week although the Dane denied he was discussing anything about an offer. Hafiz said that he had not been contacted by Jonassen on the matter. "My contract with Suchitra has ended and I'm currently based with my family there. I'm here on a holiday and will return to India over the weekend," said Hafiz. "I went to ABM to hang out with some players. I didn't apply for a coaching job nor did I receive any offer from BAM. Jonassen has not reached out to me or said anything. "However, I will definitely consider any good offer from here or in India." Hafiz has been coaching at Suchitra since December 2023 and he also had a short stint with India's former world champion, women's singles P.V. Sindhu for a few months during the period. Jonassen has also stated that he is in no rush to hire a new coach until he gets the right candidate and is willing to run the men's and women's singles programme with the help of his assistants K. Yogendran, Alvin Chew and Misbun Ramdan.
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
BAM juniors dominate National Under-18 Championships
KUALA LUMPUR: BAM juniors dominated the National Under-18 Championships by winning all five titles at stake at the Perak Badminton Academy Hall in Ipoh today. Scratch pair Heng Zi Hin (Negri Sembilan) and Ethan Oh (Putrajaya) were the only non-BAM players to reach the final, but they were outplayed by national juniors Datu Anif Isaac Asrah-Damien Ling 15-6, 15-12. In the boys' singles, top seed Kong Wei Xiang overcame Louis Lee 12-15, 20-18, 15-9 in the final. However, Louis, 16, will give national junior singles coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock some relief as he has shown a marked improvement after joining the national junior set-up three months ago. In the girls' doubles final, Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu continued their domination, despite training separately, by beating Lee Mun-Carine Tee 15-6, 15-7. Dania, 17, is part of the national junior squad but Zi Yu, 14, is still based in Segamat and joins the former in training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia during school holidays, and normally a week before tournaments. Zi Yu, who also has a medical condition (hyperthyroidism), is part of BAM junior programme but can only join the set-up when she turns 16. "We have no problems with the current training arrangement. Despite training separately, we still have a lot of understanding," said Dania, who with Zi Yu, finished second in the World Junior Championships last year in Nanchang, China. RESULTS (All finals, BAM players unless stated): Boys' singles: Kong Wei Xiang bt Louis Lee 12-15, 20-18, 15-9. Doubles: Datu Anif Isaac Asrah-Damien Ling bt Heng Zi Hin-Ethan Oh (NS-Putrajaya) 15-6, 15-12. Women's singles: Eng Ler Qi bt Oo Shan Zi 15-8, 15-9. Doubles: Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu bt Lee Mun-Carine Tee Xin Qi 15-6, 15-7.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Carine hopes to stand tall by making Asian junior squad
IPOH: Shuttler Carine Tee may be short in stature but she is not letting her height stand in the way of her dream of making it big in badminton. Carine, who turns 17 at the end of this month, is determined to fight hard to reach the top. And for a start, she is hoping to get the nod for the Asian Junior Championships from July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia. The pint-sized lass from Selangor plays in both the girl's singles and doubles and stole the show last year when she captured the Affin Elite Tour Under-16 crown with Lee Mun in the doubles. Carine has an opportunity to prove herself in the ongoing National Under-18 Championships where she will have to battle the likes of reigning national Under-21 champion Lim Zhi Shin, last year's Malaysia Games (Sukma) silver medallist Oo Shan Zi and Eng Ler Qi for the singles title. In the doubles, Carine will not have it easy either along with Lee Mun as world junior silver medallists and top seeds Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu will present a formidable challenge. "It will be tough for me in the tournament but I'm hoping to pull off upsets in the singles and doubles to improve my chances of getting selected for the Asian Juniors," said Carine, who idolises South Korean An Se-young. "I love watching Se-young as she is currently the best women's singles player in the world. "She is highly skillful and her footwork is so smooth. I want to learn a lot by watching her play. "She also has great fighting spirit. Although her opponents are leading in matches, she can still come back and win. I hope to be like her in the future." Carine has been impressing junior singles head coach Aaron Lee Inbaraj and he is backing her up although she will be up against a tough field. Zhi Shin, Ler Qi and Shan Zi are all already part of the senior team while Carine is in the junior team under Aaron and assistant coach Sylvia Kavita. The youngster did train briefly with the seniors under previous coach Jeffer Rosobin, who left BAM in February. Aaron believes that the short stint benefitted Carine and the latter is slightly ahead in terms of her development compared to his other charges. "Most of the girls under me are fairly even but Carine is a little different," said Aaron. "We had an internal tournament recently and she was quite impressive. I feel she is a little ahead of the rest. "Before she came, she trained with older girls and also the boys under Jeffer. She came in with more maturity and quality. "If there's anyone who can make it into the Asian Junior team from my group, it's her."
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Razeeq stands tall for Selangor as he seeks to defend U-18 title
High flyer: Razeeq Danial Roslie in action during the National Under-18 Badminton Championship in Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star IPOH: Shuttler Razeeq Danial Roslie has his height to thank for his rise to become one of the most promising young men's singles players in the country. Right after he was born, doctors predicted that Razeeq would become tall and upon hearing this, his father Roslie Rustam encouraged him to play badminton. Fast forward to the present and the 18-year-old Razeeq, standing at 185cm, is using his height to his advantage to develop into one of the top juniors in the country. The teen captured the National Under-18 Championships last year and finished runner-up in the Under-21 meet in January. Razeeq, who hails from Selangor, caught the eye of the national selectors and joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in February last year. 'My father told me that when I was born, the doctor said there was a strong possibility that I will become tall when I grew up,' said Razeeq. 'So, he encouraged me to play badminton. I'm not very strong yet but my height gives me an advantage as it helps with my attacking game. 'I'm happy with my progress so far in my badminton career but I hope to win an international title next.' For now, Razeeq is out to defend his Under-18 crown and got off to a good start in the tourney when he brushed past Johor's Hon Jia Heng 15-2, 15-3 in the first round at the Akademi Badminton Perak in Ipoh yesterday. Razeeq should have no problems overcoming Kuala Lumpur's Kyros Gan next in the second round today. Although seen as one of the favourites for the title, the former is taking a cautious approach. 'I don't want to put undue pressure on myself as this might affect my game. 'There are many strong players in the tournament this time and I just want to perform my best.' Razeeq is hoping that a good showing in the tourney will earn him a spot in the Asian Junior Championships from July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia. 'I was selected for the Asian Junior meet last year but I lost in the first round,' said Razeeq. 'I hope to be picked again and I want to make amends this time.'
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Aaron: 15-point system may take away art of the game
IPOH: The 15-points system could remove the art of badminton. This is the belief of junior women's singles head coach Aaron Lee Inbaraj. Aaron, who has experience coaching in India, Peru and Ecuador before taking charge of the junior girls in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last October, feels that players will not have much room to showcase their skills in matches if the 15x3 scoring format replaces the current 21-points system. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) are currently testing the 15-points system in selected lower tier competitions including the National Under-18 Championships which got underway at the Akademi Badminton Perak in Ipoh yesterday. Aaron had to prepare his players to adapt to the new format. 'The game is definitely going to change if the new 15-points system is implemented by BWF,' said Aaron. 'It will become a lot faster. Players need to be on their toes. It will mainly be on speed and power. 'A lot of skills or finesse will be taken off. I feel 21 points is already a very good system. 'There's a mix of speed and power, people have adapted so well where you do see a bit of fine skills being played. 'By shortening it to 15 points, probably the art of the game will be taken off. 'Whoever is stronger, wins. The changes will definitely affect how we train our players,' added Aaron. While the system was new to many, the 42-year-old has experience with it while coaching in clubs in Kerala, India. 'I had two coaching stints in clubs in Kerala in 2017 and 2023 and the 15-points system is not new there,' said Aaron. 'In fact, it is played a lot there in the national tournaments. There's a lot of players and there will be five qualifying rounds where the 15x3 scoring system will be used. 'Once the players reach the main draw, then the 21-points format will be implemented.' Thus, Aaron believes India will have an advantage if BWF decide to implement the new system.
