PETALING JAYA: Rising shuttlers Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu have showed that they have the potential to take over from top national women doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the future.
This was also national coaching director Rexy Mainaky’s assessment after Dania-Zi Yu captured their first junior international title by winning the girls’ doubles at the Dutch Junior Open on Sunday.
“This is a good result for Dania-Zi Yu as they have managed to go one step further after finishing runners-up in the world juniors,” said Rexy.
“I’m proud of them and I hope they can keep growing and become our top women’s doubles pair in the future.”
Currently, Pearly-Thinaah, ranked sixth in the world, are peerless in the country.
On Sunday, the 17-year-old Dania and Zi Yu, 14 confirmed themselves as the hottest young talents in the country when they needed just 32 minutes to secure a commanding 21-10, 21-10 win over Japan’s Yurika Nagafuchi-Mao Oishi in the final.
Dania-Zi Yu had earlier pulled off impressive victories over China’s top juniors Chen Fan Shutian-Zhang Jiahan and another Japanese duo Aoi Banno-Yuzu Ueno en route to lifting the title.
Dania-Zi Yu defied the odds to clinch a silver in the World Junior Championships last October and also did well to win gold in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) last August.
Meanwhile, Dania missed out on another title with Datu Anif Isaac in the mixed doubles after the pair went down 17-21, 14-21 to China’s Chen Junting-Fan Shutian.
Despite missing out on their first international crown together, Dania and Anif showed plenty of promise.
Dania will next look to continue her fine form with Zi Yu and Anif in the German Junior starting tomorrow in Mulheim.
FINAL RESULTS
Boys’ singles: Liu Yangming (Chn) bt Xiao Gaobo (Chn) 21-18, 21-13.
Boys’ doubles: Cho Hyeong-woo-Lee Hyeong-woo (Kor) bt Chen Junting-Liu Junrong (Chn) 21-18, 21-23, 11-6, ret.
Girls’ singles: Anyapat Phichitpreechasak (Tha) bt Kim Bo-hye (Kor) 21-18, 21-17.
Girls’ doubles: Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu (Mas) bt Yurika Nagafuchi-Mao Oishi (Jpn) 21-10, 21-10.
Mixed doubles: Chen Junting-Chen Fan Shutian (Chn) bt Datu Anif Isaac-Dania Sofea Zaidi (Mas) 21-17, 21-14.
