Bulk of shuttlers from Asian Juniors picked for world meet

S. Kisona is one of the 16 players selected for the World Junior Championships.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are eyeing a better outing in the World Junior Championships in Alor Setar from April 7-18.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Thursday an­­nounced the 16-player squad for the junior meet, with the bulk of them being the same players who took part in the Asian Junior meet in Taiwan in February.

In the Asian junior, only S. Kisona reached the girls’ singles quarter-finals while Malaysia failed miserably in the boys’ singles and doubles respectively.
 
Kisona is one of the 16 players selected for the World Juniors.

BAM talent search committee chairman David Wee said that it would be tough to expect exceptional results in this year’s world junior edition because most of the players are relatively new.

“For most of them, this will be an exposure trip. We are preparing this team to peak at the 2016 junior events. Give them two years and we will see them making breakthroughs,” said David.

“Our top two boys’ and girls’ singles are also using the world junior meet to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games (in Nanjing in August).

“In the boys’ doubles, we expect our top pair to do better than in the Asian junior outing – especially when they have home advantage.”

The top two junior boys’ singles Cheah June Wei and R. Satheishtharan and top two junior girls’ singles Ho Yen Mei and Lee Ying Ying are being targeted to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

In the boys’ doubles, Chua Kek Wei-Ng Di Hua are expected to reach at least the quarter-finals.

Malaysia last won a title at the World Juniors through Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi in 2012.

Last year, the shuttlers returned home empty-handed.