Latest news with #SriLankaInternationalChallenge
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Shuttler Aidil Sholeh Has Coach Nova To Thank For Rise In rankings
KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- National men's singles shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin has gone from being dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last year to breaking into the top 50 ranking of the world's top players. The 25-year-old, who is now ranked 48th in the world, attributed his rise to the guidance provided by his coach from Indonesia, Nova Armada, who continued to train him despite him (Aidil Sholeh) not being a BAM player. "It's been a year since I left BAM. I am more confident and now my ranking is on the up as is my performance. bootstrap slideshow "Before I quit (BAM), he (Nova) contacted me and said he wanted to train me. He felt that I could go far. That was the best opportunity (for me to raise my performance level),' he told reporters at the 2025 Malaysia Masters here today. In March, Aidil Sholeh bagged his maiden title as a professional shuttler when he captured the Sri Lanka International Challenge after defeating India's Pranay Katta 21-19, 21-15. He is also grateful to have had the opportunity to spar with some of the world's top players, including world number nine Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan and world number 30 Brian Yang of Canada, whenever they came to Malaysia. Aidil Sholeh added that he is targeting to be among the world's top 32 players by the end of this year, thus paving the way for him to compete in more world-class championships. Earlier, his third Malaysia Masters appearance, however, did not go to plan as he crashed out in the qualifying round, losing 21-8, 17-21, 18-21 to Taiwan's Huang Yu Kai at the Axiata Arena here. He admitted to being disappointed with his performance at the Super 500 tournament, especially after failing to capitalise on his first-game win.
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shuttler Aidil impresses in Thailand despite second-round exit
KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin's gallant run at the Thailand Open came to an end on Thursday after a hard-fought battle with world No. 14 Lu Guang Zu. World No. 48 Aidil made a bright start against the Chinese ace but was eventually overpowered 18-21, 21-16, 21-14 in a 69-minute second-round clash at the Nimibutr Stadium. Despite the defeat, it was a career-best result at a Super 500 event for the 23-year-old, who continues to impress ahead of the Malaysia Masters next week. Aidil, who was dropped by the BA of Malaysia (BAM) in June last year, has steadily climbed the ranks under the guidance of independent coach Nova Armada. He clinched the Sri Lanka International Challenge title in March, a breakthrough that helped him crack the top 50. That milestone earned him a spot in the Thailand Open, his first Super 500 appearance on the BWF World Tour. Aidil had to battle through the qualifying rounds in Bangkok and will face a similar challenge at the Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena, where he opens his campaign against world No. 65 Hang Yu Kai of Taiwan in the first round.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aidil rewarded for his bold play in Bangkok
KUALA LUMPUR: It may only be the second round of a Super 500 tournament, but for Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin it is a career milestone. The world No. 48 played superbly to stun China's world No. 32 Wang Zheng Xing 21-12, 19-21, 21-18 in the first round at the Thailand Open today. Aidil advanced after a 59-minute battle at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. And for the first time, the professional shuttler is in the second round of a Super 500 event on the World Tour. Aidil has enjoyed a strong season thus far, capturing the Sri Lanka International Challenge title in March and reaching the semi-finals of the Ruichang Masters in the same month. "I'm grateful for this win. I felt that I was braver with every shot I played throughout the match. I didn't overthink things," said Aidil when contacted. Aidil's career with the BA of Malaysia had stalled after he failed to break into the world's top 60, eventually being relegated to being a sparring partner for the national team's elite players. Last year, he parted ways with the national setup and was invited to train under Indonesian coach Nova Armada. Nova, who also coaches women's shuttler Goh Jin Wei, initially brought in Aidil as a sparring partner for Cheah Liek Hou in preparation for the Paris Paralympics. Following Liek Hou's successful campaign in Paris, Nova shifted his focus back to Aidil. He secured sponsorship for Aidil, enabling him to resume his competitive career. The results have been encouraging. Aidil won the Sri Lanka International title in March and reached the semi-finals of the Ruichang Masters the same month. He will try to pull off another surprise in the second round, against a formidable world No. 14 Lu Guang Zu of China. Guang Zu beat Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-15, 14-21, 21-19 in the first round. "I don't want to overthink it, I just plan to go all out against Guang Zu," said Aidil. Aidil and Guang Zu have never crossed paths before, but if the 25-year-old can summon the same tenacity he displayed against Zheng Xing, an upset may well be on the cards. In women's doubles, world No. 25 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing overcame Taiwan's world No. 52 Chen Su Yu-Hsieh Yi En 21-15, 18-21, 21-15. The Malaysian pair will next face the winners of the all-Indonesian clash between Meilysa Puspitasari-Rachel Rose and Apriyani Rahayu-Febi Setianingrum. However, mixed doubles Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin suffered their third consecutive first-round defeat. The world No. 14 and seventh seeds fell to home favourites Supak Jomkoh-Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn 21-15, 21-18, 21-17. Their run of early exits began at the All England in March, followed by the Asia Championships last month. National players Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow also fell early, losing to South Korea's world No. 56 Ki Dong Ju-Jeong Na Eun 21-18, 21-17.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shuttler Aidil stuns China's Zheng Xing in Thailand Open
KUALA LUMPUR: It may only be the second round of a Super 500 tournament, but for Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin it is a career milestone. The world No. 48 played superbly to stun China's world No. 32 Wang Zheng Xing 21-12, 19-21, 21-18 in the first round at the Thailand Open today. Aidil advanced after a 59-minute battle at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. And for the first time, the professional shuttler is in the second round of a Super 500 event on the World Tour. Aidil has enjoyed a strong season thus far, capturing the Sri Lanka International Challenge title in March and reaching the semi-finals of the Ruichang Masters in the same month. He will next face either Thailand's world No. 50 Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul or China's eighth seed Lu Guang Zu. In women's doubles, world No. 25 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing overcame Taiwan's world No. 52 Chen Su Yu-Hsieh Yi En 21-15, 18-21, 21-15. The Malaysian pair will next face the winners of the all-Indonesian clash between Meilysa Puspitasari-Rachel Rose and Apriyani Rahayu-Febi Setianingrum. However, mixed doubles Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin suffered their third consecutive first-round defeat. The world No. 14 and seventh seeds fell to home favourites Supak Jomkoh-Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn 21-15, 21-18, 21-17. Their run of early exits began at the All England in March, followed by the Asia Championships last month. National players Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow also fell early, losing to South Korea's world No. 56 Ki Dong Ju-Jeong Na Eun 21-18, 21-17.
