Eager for action: Siti Zulaikha Azmi is preparing to make her debut in the Asian Junior Championships from July 7-16.
PETALING JAYA: National junior shuttler Siti Zulaikha Azmi aims to reach the top just like her idol Akane Yamaguchi one day.
Japan’s Yamaguchi is the current world No. 1 women’s singles shuttler and two-time world champion.
Zulaikha, 17, who is preparing to make her debut in the Asian Junior Championships from July 7-16, hopes to follow in her footsteps.
“Yamaguchi is my idol and I hope to win many big titles like her in the future.
“I love her style of play as she has a really good defence,” said Zulaikha.
She can also take inspiration from Yamaguchi, who captured gold in the 2014 Asian Junior meet in Taipei.
The youngster has been handed double duty in the tournament as she will be competing in both the singles and girls’ doubles with Clarissa San.
“I feel excited to play in my first Asian Junior meet but I’m also feeling a bit of pressure,” said Zulaikha.
“My preparations have been really good and I’m satisfied with my performances so far this year.
“I know that I need to keep working hard and I will give everything to get a positive result in this tournament.”
Zulaikha’s best result this year came in the Dutch Junior International where she reached the semi-finals.
In the Asian Junior meet, Zulaikha will first compete in the team event from July 7-11 before turning her attention to the individual competition from July 12-16.
Malaysia have been placed in Group C in the team event along with India, Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
The team need to win at least two matches to finish in the top two and reach the quarter-finals.
Besides, Zulaikha, the other players in the team are Eogene Ewe, Lee Jan Jireh, Mohd Faiq Haziq, Lok Hong Quan, Bryan Goonting, Lok Hong Quan, Aaron Tai, Kang Khai Xing (boys’ team); Ong Xin Yee, Ung Yi Xing, Carmen Ting, Lai Ting Cen, Chong Jie Yu and Clarissa San (girls’ team).
