PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lim Zhi Shin proved that she can be a future star after capturing the girls’ singles title in the National Under-21 Championships.
Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) Zhi Shin stunned the more experienced Siti Nurshuhaini Azman from Selangor 21-19, 17-21, 21-19 in a hard-fought 75-minute final in Kuantan yesterday.
The 17-year-old showed maturity beyond her age to come out on top over Nurshuhaini, 20, who was dropped from BAM last year due to form and fitness issues.
Zhi Shin also toppled top seed and teammate Eng Ler Qi in the last four.
The former, who hails from Penang, has also demonstrated her versatility when she combined brilliantly with Ong Xin Yee to win the Under-18 girls’ doubles crown last year.
Zhi Shin has already caught the eye of junior coaches in BAM when she was selected for the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China last October.
The youngster made it into the fourth round before going down to India’s Aalisha Naik.
Zhi Shin’s impressive form in the national tourney could see her get the nod for both the World and Asian Juniors this year.
Meanwhile, Penang’s Tan Kean Wei defeated BAM’s national Under-18 champion Roslie Razeeq Danial 21-18, 13-21, 21-10 to win the boys’ singles title.
In the boys’ doubles, Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan justified their top seed status by battling hard to beat teammates Loh Ziheng-Tan Zhi Yang 18-21, 21-18, 21-19.
It was another feather in the cap for Faiq-Hong Quan, who also won the Malaysia Games (Sukma) and Malaysian Junior International Challenge titles last year.
In the girls’ doubles, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting avenged their defeat to Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu in the World Junior meet by coming out top with a 21-19, 21-7 win.
RESULTS
(BAM players unless stated)
FINALS
Boys’ singles: Tan Kean Wei (Pen) bt Roslie Razeeq Danial 21-18, 13-21, 21-10.
Boys’ doubles: Mohd Faiq Masawi-Lok Hong Quan bt Loh Ziheng-Tan Zhi Yang 18-21, 21-18, 21-19.
Girls’ singles: Lim Zhi Shin bt Siti Nurshuhaini Azman (Sel) 21-19,17-21, 21-19.
Girls’ doubles: Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting bt Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu (Joh) 21-19, 21-7.
Mixed doubles: Wee Yee Hern-Chan Wen Tse bt Loh Ziheng-Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan 21-11, 21-16.
