PETALING JAYA: It all started with a RM2 racquet, and now Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal is an Asian junior badminton champion.
The 17-year-old Redzuan, who ended Malaysia’s 19-year wait for the Asian Junior Championships mixed doubles title with Low Zi Yu in Japan on Sunday, admitted he was more interested in football as a child.
If not for his father’s influence, Redzuan might have taken a different path as a footballer instead of becoming a badminton player.
The youngster, who represented SK Atas Tol in Kuala Terengganu in football, said he made the switch after watching his father, Ahmad Redzuan Abdul Rahman, play badminton.
“I used to play football, while my father often played badminton with his friends. Then one day, I felt like giving it a try. I secretly bought a cheap racquet for RM2,” said Redzuan.
“When my parents found out that I had a deep interest in badminton, they gave me their full support.
“Compared to my other teammates in BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia), I picked up badminton quite late, at the age of nine. I joined the association when I was 13,” he said.
After coming home empty-handed in three previous editions, Redzuan said he requested extra sessions with his coaches after every training session to make sure he could return with a medal in his final year competing at junior level.
“I targeted the gold medal. I trained very hard and kept asking my coaches about my weaknesses and how I could improve,” he said.
“Previously, I followed the training schedule set by the coaches, but this time I asked for extra sessions to improve my fitness and on-court work. I focused more on fitness as I lacked in the area. I did a lot of running on the treadmill,” he added.
Redzuan-Zi Yu defeated China’s Zheng Weigang-Li Menghan 21-15, 22-20 in a 43-minute final at the Yatsushiro City General Gymnasium to become Malaysia’s second Asian junior mixed doubles champions after Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei’s feat in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.
Redzuan will compete in the Malaysian Junior International Challenge from July 21-26 at Stadium Titiwangsa in KL while Zi Yu will partner Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan in the Taiwan Open from July 28-Aug 2.
