PETALING JAYA: Two time world junior championships silver medallist Low Zi Yu has hinted that she is set to join her national teammates at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on a full time basis next year.
The 15-year-old said she has set herself a major target of winning the world junior title after having to settle for silver in her previous two attempts in the girls doubles event.
Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan came close to becoming Malaysia’s first ever girls’ doubles world junior champions but had to settle for silver after narrowly falling 13-15, 17-19 to China’s Tan Kexuan-Wei Yueyue in India, last October.
Zi Yu and Nor Dania Sofea also reached the final at the previous edition, only to lose to Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki in China.
“Of course I will join BAM, possibly starting next year,” said Zi Yu,
I’ve already won medals at the world junior meet and I feel the time has come for me to be there full time.
Zi Yu had previously been commuting frequently from Segamat to Bukit Kiara and only trained with the national squad when on national duty, while continuing her regular training at her home club, the Spiritual Segamat Badminton Club (SSBC).
She was unable to train full time earlier due to health concerns after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which required close supervision from her family.
However, her condition has since improved and her father has given his consent should she decide to train full time at the national camp.
“I am not setting targets too far ahead. For next year, I hope to become world junior champion because Malaysia has never had a world junior champion in girls doubles, and I want to help Malaysia achieve that,” said Zi Yu.
Zi Yu believes that a competitive environment and greater exposure are crucial for her to realise her ambitions.
“In Johor, I train in Segamat and the training environment there is not the same as at BAM. The facilities and overall training set up there are better, and I feel joining BAM will help me improve further.
“At my club in Segamat, there are not many trainees, especially those at the same level as me. At BAM, the environment is more balanced and I also occasionally get the chance to spar with senior players.
“I am still taking medication, but the doctor has confirmed that my condition is stable and I just need to continue with the medication,” she added.
