PETALING JAYA: World junior runner-up Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (pic) is leaving it to the coaches to decide whether she should continue competing in both events or focus solely on the women’s doubles.
The 18-year-old from Melaka Tengah caught the eye when she returned from the World Junior Championships in Guwahati, India, two weeks ago with a silver medal in the girls’ doubles with Low Zi Yu and bronze in the mixed doubles with Loh Zi Heng.
Although she fell short of her dream of becoming a world junior champion, her performance in what was her final appearance at junior level was a big improvement from her debut in Nanchang last year, where she was eliminated in the first round in both events.
“I don’t see this as a sad or happy ending to my World Junior Championships journey. I’m just proud that I managed to bring home a medal for Malaysia.
“I’ll leave the decision to my coaches. I know the senior level will be much tougher. The strength and quality of the players are different, and I’ll need to work even harder,” said Noraqilah.
Noraqilah is currently competing in the Vietnam International Series in Bac Giang, where she continues to play in both the women’s doubles with Nur Aina Maisarah and the mixed doubles with Zi Heng.
However, at next month’s Syed Modi India International, she will partner Loo Bing Kun in the mixed doubles.
At the same tournament, she will also reunite with Zi Yu in the women’s doubles, although the pair will have to go through the qualifying rounds.
The Syed Modi meet will mark Noraqilah’s debut in a World Tour Super 300 event.
