PETALING JAYA: A positive few weeks have fired up shuttler Eogene Ewe (pic) for the World Junior Championships in the United States from Sept 25-Oct 8.
Eogene has been enjoying training with the senior squad at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara since last month along with his other junior teammates bound for the world meet.
The sparring sessions seemed to have paid dividends as the 18-year-old captured his first title of the year in the men’s singles at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge in Perlis recently and was named for the world junior squad yesterday.
“Training and sparring sessions with the national players had been excellent.
“It was also motivating and inspiring for us juniors to be playing alongside our seniors,” said Eogene.
In the world junior meet squad list released by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) yesterday, Eogene will be joined by Mohd Faiq Masawi in the men’s singles.
Surprisingly, Lee Jan Jireh was not included in the squad despite finishing runners-up to Eogene in Perlis.
The others selected in the men’s team are Malaysian Junior International champions Aaron Tai-Khang Kai Xing, Bryan Goonting and Low Han Chen.
Meanwhile, the players included in the women’s team are Ong Xin Yee, Siti Zulaikha Azmi (singles), Carmen Ting, Chong Jie Yu and Chan Wen Tse (doubles).
Low Han Chen-Chong Jie Yu had finished runners-up in the Malaysian International.
The players will be out to do better after returning empty-handed from the Asian Junior meet in July in Yogyakarta.
On the selection, youth development deputy director Joanne Quay said: “After the Asian Junior Championships, we identified areas that required attention.
“Over the last few weeks, the players have been pushing hard in training, and we are pleased with their commitment and discipline.
“We know it will be difficult going up against the other teams.”
