PETALING JAYA: Young national shuttler Ayu Fu Sheng (pic) is just one step away from ending the country’s eight-year wait for a medal in the boys’ singles event at the World Junior Championships after securing a place in the quarter-finals.
However, Fu Sheng faces an uphill battle as he is set to take on world junior No. 2 Richie Richardo in match that guarantees a bronze if he wins today.
Earlier, Fu Sheng produced a solid performance to beat Japan’s Shunki Hagiwara 15-9, 15-5 in the fourth round at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, India, yesterday.
Richie, meanwhile, had to dig deep before overcoming another Japanese shuttler, Kazuma Kawano, 15-9, 15-13.
Their last meeting was at the Indonesia Junior International Grand Prix in July last year, where Richie came out on top.
Malaysia last won a medal in the boys’ singles through Leong Jun Hao, who lost to Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the final of the 2017 edition in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair and top seeds Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, were relieved to secure a place in the quarter-finals after beating China’s Feng Yilang-Zhang Jiahan 15-13, 17-15 to set up a meeting against Indonesia’s ninth seeds, Ikhsan Pramudya-Rinjani Nastine.
“Of course, we’re happy because our draw hasn’t been easy, and we managed to break through to the quarter-finals,” said Noraqilah in post match interview with Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Added Zi Heng: “We’ve already beaten two Chinese pairs in this tournament, so that’s a big achievement.”
RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)
FOURTH ROUND
Boy’s singles: Ayu Fu Sheng bt Shunki Hagiwara (Jpn) 15-9, 15-5.
Girl’s singles: Yuzuno Watanabe (Jpn) bt Oo Shan Zi 15-11, 15-12; Unnati Hooda (Ind) bt Carine Tee 15-10, 15-7.
Girl’s doubles: Kodchaporn Chaichana-Pannawee Polyiam (Tha) bt Nicole Chau-Teh Xin Ying 17-15, 15-4;
Mixed doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Feng Yilang-Zhang Jiahan (Chn) 15-13, 17-15; Tan Zhi Yang-Nicole Tan bt Aidthya Kiran-Sakshi Kurbkhelgi (Uae) 15-6, 15-7.
THIRD ROUND
Boys’ singles: Ayu Fu Sheng bt Lam Ka To (Hkg) 15-4, 3-15, 16-14.
Boys’ doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang bt Arden Lee-Stanley Xing (Usa) 15-12, 16-14.
Girls’ singles: Carine Tee bt Marie Viscovich (Den) 15-8, 15-11; Oo Shan Zi bt Salsabila Amiradana (Ina) 15-8, 15-11; Ranithma Liyanage (Sri) bt Eng Ler Qi 15-9, 15-12; Liy Siya (Chn) bt Lim Zhi Shin 15-10, 16-14.
Girls’ doubles: Nicole Hau-Teh Xin Ying bt Sandathi Hewagallage-Pawani Illeperumaarachchi (Sri) 15-2, 15-7; Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Athene Thornild-Jasmin Willis (Den) 15-6, 15-11; Hathaithip Mijad-Napapakorn Tungkasatan (Tha) bt Lee Joinne-Nur Aina Maisarah 15-9, 15-5.
Mixed doubles: Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah bt Wei Jianzhen-Liang Yuen (Chn) 10-15, 15-10, 15-13; Tan Zhi Yang-Nicole Tan bt Cheng Ying Kit-Hung Ho Yan (Hkg) 15-9, 15-12; Mulky Aufa Atmaja-Salma Mufida (Ina) bt Datu Anifah Isaac Asrah-Low Zi Yu 7-15.
