PETALING JAYA: The national junior mixed doubles camp is racing against time to find a new partner for Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah ahead of the World Junior Championships in Guwahati, India from Oct 13-19.
This comes after Datu’s partner, Dania Sofea Zaidi, suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in her left knee last month.
The setback has left the junior team in a bind as Datu-Dania are currently the world No. 1 pair in junior mixed doubles.
Dania was also last year’s world junior runner-up in the girls’ doubles with Low Zi Yu.
Junior mixed doubles coach Hazwan Jamaluddin revealed that several players had been tested as potential replacements to partner Datu.
Among those being considered are Teh Si Yan, Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta and Zi Yu.
“As for the line-up, there may be a slight change in the mixed doubles.
“Right now, we are still searching for a new partner for Datu and so far, we have identified two or three players who can fill in for Dania.
“Time is not on our side but we are trying our best for Datu. This is also his final year in the junior ranks, so we hope to achieve good results,” said Hazwan.
Hazwan believes Malaysia have a bright chance of advancing to the knockout round in the mixed team event.
Based on the latest draw conducted by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Malaysia have been placed in Group C alongside Australia, Canada and Slovenia.
Only the group winners will advance to the quarter-finals.
At last year’s edition in Nanchang, besides Dania-Zi Yu taking home the silver, Malaysia also had plenty to cheer about when Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing clinched the boys’ doubles title, while the team secured bronze in the mixed team event.
