IPOH: Training with the likes of top mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei has benefitted youngsters Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan.
Yesterday, Ziheng-Noraqilah stunned teammates and top seeds Datu Anif Isaac-Dania Sofea Zaidi to capture their maiden title together in the Under-18 National Championships.
Anif-Dania, who finished runners-up in the Dutch Junior International in February, were hot favourites to win the crown but Ziheng-Noraqilah fought brilliantly to come away with a 14-16,15-10, 16-14 victory at the Academy Badminton Perak in Ipoh yesterday.
Noraqilah was happy to defend the title she won last year with Justin Goh.
“We always train with Anif and Dania, so we know each other’s playing style well. We just wanted to play our best and we are happy to win this title,” said Noraqilah, who is from Melaka.
“Ziheng and I played together earlier, then we were split and combined again in February.
“Anif-Dania are currently the top junior pair in the country, so we didn’t have any pressure on ourselves. This gave us the freedom to play our game well.”
Ziheng, who is 17 just like Noraqilah, believes the pair have improved after training alongside the likes of world No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei and world No. 14 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in the senior set-up.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pang Ron-Su Yin are currently BAM’s No. 1 and No. 2 mixed pair and are only behind world No. 3 independent duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the country.
Ziheng-Noraqilah and Anif-Dania have moved up to the senior team and train under coach Hazwan Jamaluddin.
“Training with the seniors like Tang Jie-Ee Wei have benefitted us. It’s difficult to train with them as their level is much higher but we are learning a lot from them,” said Ziheng, who was born in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
“Winning this title has really boosted our confidence and we hope to keep getting better after this.”
Ziheng-Noraqilah have set their sights next on capturing a medal in the Asian Junior Championships from July 18-27 in Solo, Indonesia.
The duo are likely Malaysia’s best bet to win a medal in the mixed doubles along with Anif-Dania.
Meanwhile, Anif and Dania made up for their disappointment of missing out on the mixed crown when they won the boys’ and girls’ doubles titles respectively.
Anif, who was competing for the first time in the boys’ doubles event with Damien Ling, had little trouble defeating Negri Sembilan’s Heng Hi Zin and Putrajaya’s Ethan Joon 15-6, 15-12 for the title.
Dania also justified her top seed status with Low Zi Yu by beating teammates Carine Tee-Lee Mun 15-6, 15-7 to win their first Under-18 crown together.
