Championing future badminton stars

(Sixth from left) Azlan, Henry and Japan Junior National team director Yoshikazu Kiyama together with coaches and participants of the Astro Kem Badminton in Toyko, Japan.

SPENDING one week in Japan did not come easy for 30 aspiring shuttlers and it certainly did not involve stuffing themselves with some of the best sushi in town.

The primary school-going group, involved for the seventh edition of the Astro Kem Badminton (AKB), powered through gruelling training sessions headed by Japan’s National Junior head coach Hiroyuki Hasegawa during their week-long stay at the Ajinomoto Training Centre.