Double duty: Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (right) will continue to play in the mixed doubles and women’s doubles. Here, she is competing in a local competition with Low Han Chen.
PETALING JAYA: Competing in two events is not a burden for young player Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan.
In fact, it could be an advantage as she adjusts to the senior squad.
Junior doubles coach Amelia Anscelly said taking part in two events gives Noraqilah wider exposure and valuable experience that will benefit her career in the long run.
Noraqilah was paired with a new partner in mixed doubles, Loo Bing Kun, and the duo made it to the second round in their first outing together at the Korean Masters before losing to Thailand’s Phuwanat Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard.
Two weeks earlier at the Vietnam International Series, she competed in two events, including women’s doubles with her former partner Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta, but exited in the second round.
Luck was on her side in mixed doubles, however, as she and Loh Zi Heng clinched the title — a farewell triumph before both moved on to new partnerships.
For Amelia, this is all part of the process Noraqilah needs to go through before eventually deciding which event to specialise in in the future.
“I think she’s still young, so there’s no problem with her competing in two events for now. But in a few years, she should decide which event to focus on and specialise in that,” said Amelia.
At 18, Noraqilah is already familiar with juggling multiple events, having done so during her time in the national junior squad.
Her recent campaign at the World Junior Championships in Guwahati, India, last month saw her return with two medals – a silver in girl’s doubles with Low Zi Yu and a bronze in mixed doubles with Zi Heng.
Previously, only a few players in the national squad were tasked with competing in multiple events.
But following recent reshuffles in the doubles line-up, several new pairings are now being tested as coaches look to identify combinations with the potential to make an impact in women’s and mixed doubles.
