PETALING JAYA: A title win at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge has given Dania Sofea Zaidi and Low Zi Yu the perfect boost ahead of the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia from July 18-27.
The win was especially meaningful for Dania, who had earlier fallen short in the mixed doubles final with Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah despite going in as the top seeds in Kangar, Perlis yesterday.
Dania-Datu lost 22-20, 15-21, 12-21 to compatriots Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah in a 54-minute duel.
But the Johor-born shuttler made amends in the girls’ doubles final when she and Zi Yu outplayed Thailand’s Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom 21-11, 21-19 to lift the title.
“I just gave my best. Of course, there’s pressure going into the Asian Juniors because the coaches are expecting Zi Yu and I to deliver, especially after we finished runners-up at the World Junior Championships last year. But I’m embracing the pressure,” said Dania.
Top seeds Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang failed to add more titles for Malaysia when they fell to Indonesia’s Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka 21-18, 19-21, 20-22 in the boys’ doubles final.
All eyes will now be on Dania in Solo, where she will play in the girls’, mixed doubles and mixed team events.
Dania-Zi Yu have been seeded second in the girls’ doubles, while Dania-Datu will also go in as the second seeds in the mixed doubles.
In the team event, Malaysia have been seeded sixth behind Thailand, India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan.
FINAL RESULTS
Boys’ singles: Tonrug Saeheng (Tha) bt Ip Sum Yau (Hkg) 21-18, 15-21, 21-17.
Boys’ doubles: Alexius Subagio-Aquino Tangka (Ina) bt Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Ying (Mas) 21-18, 19-21, 20-22.
Girls’ singles: Lam Ka To (Hkg) bt radith Bayu Wardhana (Ina) 21-8, 21-9.
Girls’ doubles: Low Zi Yu-Dania Sofea Zaidi (Mas) bt Khanaphon Deearom-Thanaphon Deearom (Tha) 21-11, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Datu Anif Datu Asrah-Dania Sofea Zaidi 20-22, 21-15, 21-12.
