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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
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Shuttler Low set to reach a high thanks to family and partner Dania
Future stars in the making: Low Zi Yu (right) and Dania Sofea Zaidi in action during the Under-18 National Championships.— RONNIE CHIN/The Star IPOH: Sporting talent runs in rising shuttler Low Zi Yu's blood. Zi Yu made her presence felt when she became the youngest finalist in the World Junior Championships after winning silver with Dania Sofea Zaidi last October. The Johor lass achieved the feat when she was just 14 years and 53 days old. Previously, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon was the youngest at 14 years and 269 days old when she reached the 2009 girls' singles final in Alor Star. Zi Yu has credited her family for her sporting genes. Her father Darren Low was a former Johor state badminton and tennis player while her mother Linda Tan plays tennis socially. Zi Yu's brother Low Cheng Wei also played badminton and tennis while her sister Low Zi Xuan played netball. 'Growing up in a sporting family helped me to become a badminton player. My family supports me a lot in this journey,' said Zi Yu. 'My father played badminton and tennis. When I was three, my father gave me a racquet and I started playing the sport. 'My father said I had the talent and he encouraged me to go for training. I trained in Segamat under my father's friend Wee Hock Leng.' Zi Yu shared that her friendship with Dania, who is also from Johor played an important role in the duo's rise to become one of the most promising doubles pairs in the country. 'I knew Dania since I was nine as we were both from the Johor state team. We became friends and this helped our understanding on court,' said Zi Yu. 'We complement each other well as she is good at intercepting the shuttle at the front court and create opportunities for me to attack. 'She also guides me on strategies and encourages me a lot.' The 17-year-old Dania joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) this year while Zi Yu, who is still part of the Johor state team, joins her partner for training in the national set-up before tournaments. Zi Yu's main target this year is to win gold with Dania in both the Asian (July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia) and world junior meets (Oct 6-19) in Guwahati, India. Yesterday Zi Yu stayed on course for the girls' doubles title when she combined well with Dania to beat Lee Joinne-Nicole Tan 15-7, 15-11 to set up a final date against teammates Carine Tee-Lee Mun.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Teen shuttler Zi Yu aims high, thanks to family support and good partner
Strong support: From left (Low Zi Yu's father Darren Low, mother Linda Tan, Zi Yu, sister Low Zi Xuan and brother Low Cheng Wei). IPOH: Sporting talent runs in rising shuttler Low Zi Yu's blood. Zi Yu made her presence felt when she became the youngest finalist in the World Junior Championships after winning silver with Dania Sofea Zaidi last October. The Johor lass achieved the feat when she was just 14 years and 53 days old. Previously, Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon was the youngest at 14 years and 269 days old when she reached the 2009 girls' singles final in Alor Star. Zi Yu has credited her family for her sporting genes. Her father Darren Low was a former Johor state badminton and tennis player while her mother Linda Tan plays tennis socially. Zi Yu's brother Low Cheng Wei also played badminton and tennis while her sister Low Zi Xuan played netball. "Growing up in a sporting family helped me to become a badminton player. My family supports me a lot in this journey," said Zi Yu. "My father played badminton and tennis. When I was three, my father gave me a racket and I started playing the sport. "My father said I had the talent and he encouraged me to go for training. I trained in Segamat under my father's friend Wee Hock Leng." Zi Yu shared that her friendship with Dania, who is also from Johor played an important role in the duo's rise to become one of the most promising doubles pairs in the country. "I knew Dania since I was nine as we were both from the Johor state team. We became friends and this helped our understanding on court," said Zi Yu. "We complement each other well as she is good at intercepting the shuttle at the front court and create opportunities for me to attack. "She also guides me on strategies and encourages me a lot." The 17-year-old Dania joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) this year while Zi Yu, who is still part of the Johor state team, joins her partner for training in the national set-up before tournaments. Zi Yu's main target this year is to win gold with Dania in both the Asian (July 18-27) in Solo, Indonesia and world junior meets (Oct 6-19) in Guwahati, India. On Saturday (April 26), Zi Yu-Dania made it into the semi-finals of the Under-18 National Championships after beating teammates Nicole Chau-The Si Yan 15-7, 15-7 at the Academy Badminton Perak in Ipoh and will next play another BAM pair Lee Joinnee-Nicole Tan for a place in the final. Zi Yu is also competing in the girls' singles and has reached the semi-finals as well after ousting BAM's Lee Mun 15-11, 12-15, 15-6 and will face top seed Eng Ler Qi next.
