THE inspiring performance of Low Zi Yu in her first Asian Games underlined the value of investing in the younger generation.
The 16-year-old Zi Yu showed plenty of grit in the women’s doubles with Cheng Su Yin, with the pair coming close to upsetting former world No. 3 duo Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong before going down at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi on Tuesday.
Malaysia lost 1-3 to defending champions South Korea in the quarter-finals, but the performances of Zi Yu and several other youngsters offered plenty of encouragement for the future.
Perhaps the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) can use the women’s team campaign at the Games as a turning point and build a side capable of challenging for medals at future major Games.
The national team, led by K. Letshanaa, have shown that there is plenty of potential in the current squad if the players are given the right attention and development.
The squad, made up mostly of players aged under 21 and making their Asian Games debuts.
Letshanaa and doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were the only members of the team with previous Asian Games experience.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky was pleased with the performances of the players fielded, saying they managed to bring out their best despite coming up against opponents with far greater experience and pedigree.
“Everyone played well (on Tuesday), both in the singles and doubles,” said Rexy.
Wong Ling Ching also fought hard against world No. 12 Kim Ga-eun, while Letshanaa had the unenviable task of taking on world No. 1 An Se-young.
Pearly-Thinaah delivered Malaysia’s only point after beating world champions Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee.
Women’s singles shuttlers Oo Shan Zi, Eng Ler Qi, doubles player Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and experienced mixed doubles player Shevon Lai Jamie did not feature in the quarter-finals.
Noraqilah, who had recently recovered from an ankle injury, is expected to team up with Zi Yu in the individual event.
Although Malaysia missed out on the semi-finals and a guaranteed bronze medal, the women’s team at least justified BAM’s decision to enter them at the Asian Games this time.
BAM had skipped the women’s team event at the previous two editions in Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022 as they felt the squad were not strong enough to mount a serious challenge.
The team had already shown signs of progress in April when they ended a 16-year wait to reach the Uber Cup Finals quarter-finals in Horsens. And it is time to give the women shuttlers the duo focus and investment.
