KUALA LUMPUR: Success is built on hard work, not miracles.
Professional singles coach Nova Armada credits Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin’s remarkable rise in the world rankings to his unwavering commitment and relentless effort in both training and competition.
Aidil rejoined Sports Affairs in mid-2023 after being dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), sitting at world No. 135 at the time.
In less than a year under Nova’s guidance, the 25-year-old has surged to No. 59, with his ranking expected to climb further after reaching the semi-finals of the China Masters, which concluded yesterday.
Despite his progress, Nova believes there is still more to achieve. His goal is for Aidil to break into the top 32, which would allow him to compete in higher-tier tournaments against stronger opponents, an essential step in his development.
“This is entirely his own effort. His determination to succeed is clear. I push him hard in training, just as I do with Cheah Liek Hou, since they train together. Without tough training, how can he survive on court?,” said Nova.
“I am pleased with his improvement, but there is still a lot to work on. As I have always said, I want him to reach the top 32, as this will open doors to bigger tournaments. Hopefully, he can achieve this by December because we want him to qualify for the Malaysian Open in early January next year.
Commenting on Aidil’s semi-final defeat at the China Masters on Saturday (March 16) to China’s Sun Chao, Nova admitted that his protege was too eager to close out the match, which ultimately backfired.
Aidil struggled to maintain control as he fell into his opponent’s rhythm, resulting in a 21-13, 19-21, 18-21 loss that ended his campaign.
“He started well, but towards the end of the third set, even after pulling ahead, he was too eager to finish the match quickly.
“His opponent drew him into front-court play, an area where Aidil still needs improvement. Nevertheless, I am proud of his achievement, as reaching the semi-finals was our target for this tournament.
“Next, he will compete in the Vietnam International Challenge, but after that, I believe he needs a break. I want him fresh and in peak condition when the Malaysian Masters kicks off in May,” he added.
