KUALA LUMPUR: Professional men’s singles shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (pic) has set his sights on breaking into the world’s top 10 after gaining a confidence boost from his triumph at the Sri Lanka International Challenge.
Aidil, currently ranked 60th in the world, said this was a long-term goal he aimed to achieve, and to maintain his winning momentum, he will make another bid for a podium finish at the China Masters starting today.
His victory in Colombo two weeks ago has reignited his spirit and confidence on the court, as it was his first title since turning professional after leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in June 2024.
For Aidil, life as a professional player is a stark contrast to his time as a national shuttler when he enjoyed top-class facilities and support. Now he must work even harder to achieve success and secure strong financial backing from sponsors.
“I feel more motivated and confident to compete after winning the championship. My goal has always been to improve my ranking, and I strive to deliver my best performance in every match,” said Aidil.
“According to the plan, coach Nova (Armada) wants me to climb the rankings as quickly as possible so that I have the opportunity to compete in higher-tier tournaments.
“However, achieving that is not easy. As a professional player, I need to convince my sponsors while also attracting new ones,” said Aidil, who is currently sponsored by Sports Affairs and Apacs.
During his time as a national player, he trained under the legendary Datuk Misbun Sidek, who believed he had the potential to succeed. However, for reasons unknown, Aidil, now 25, struggled to fully realise that promise.
At the China Masters, second seed Aidil faces a qualifier in the first round.
His compatriot, Cheam June Wei, who is now training under Ong Ewe Hock, will also be competing in the tournament as the top seed.
