Winning matches takes priority over on-court flair, says rising star Noraqilah


PETALING JAYA: Young shuttler Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan has always had a flair to her game, and she was not afraid to show it on the big stage at the Uber Cup in Horsens recently.

The rising women’s doubles pair of Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah were in the spotlight after delivering Malaysia’s only point in their final Group B tie against Japan.

One moment in particular stood out, with 18-year-old Noraqilah unleashing a fantastic backhand smash, and eagle-eyed fans quickly drew comparison to men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s signature move.

However, Noraqilah admitted she has always had creative flair in her game, especially during her junior years, though she was flattered by the comparison to Zii Jia.

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"Thank you for the comparison," she said when met at Akademi Badminton Malaysia on Tuesday (May 5).

"When I was a little younger, around 14, I had a lot of those fancy patterns... there was some flair in my game.

"But since then, I've been more focused on competing alongside the seniors, so I cut out some of the fancy stuff."

On whether or not she intends to keep that flair going, Noraqilah said her primary focus remains on competing at the highest level and raking in wins.

"To be honest I never really gave it much thought. I’m only focused on winning and that’s the priority," she said.

 

 

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