PETALING JAYA: Being promoted to the senior team at a very young age may bring pressure, but national women’s singles shuttler Oo Shan Zi (pic) is taking things in her stride.
The 16-year-old Shan Zi earned the national call-up after winning silver in the National Under-16 Championships and bronze in the National Under-21 Cham–pionships last year, and was swiftly moved up to the senior squad upon joining the Badminton Association of Malay–sia (BAM) in December last year.This was an unusual path, as players usually start in the junior team before being promoted to the senior ranks at the age of 18.
While acknowledging the pressure that comes with being fast-tracked, Shan Zi believes that it is beneficial for her overall development as a player.
“It was our coach’s decision for me to be promoted to the senior team once I joined BAM in December last year,” said Shan Zi.
“Of course I feel pressured to join the senior team at such a young age, but it is also one of the ways for me to learn more things.”
Yesterday, world No. 302 Shan Zi kicked off her campaign in the Malaysian International Chal–lenge on a positive note after pulling off an upset 21-19, 21-19 win against Singapore’s No. 288 Megan Lee Xin Yee in the qualifying round at the Arena Badminton Perak in Ipoh.
Shan Zi performed well to stun a higher-ranked player to set up a meeting with world No. 73 Chiu Pin-chian of Taiwan in the first round today but she was not satisfied.
“The qualifying round was quite important for me, so I fought till the end,” said Shan Zi.
“However, I’m not very satisfied with my performance because I felt the pressure.
“I have not played her (Pin-chian) before and she is older than me, so I will just give my best and fight hard tomorrow (today).”
Shan Zi suffered early-round exits in all nine tournaments that she participated this year so far.
