PETALING JAYA: Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal had coach Pang Cheh Chang on his mind as Malaysia opened their World Junior Championships mixed team campaign with a 2-0 win over Slovenia in Cairo, Egypt on Monday (Oct 5).
The 52-year-old coach is not with the national squad as he continues to recover after being hospitalised when he nearly fainted while accompanying the team at the National Under-18 Championships in Alor Setar three weeks ago.
But Redzuan said Cheh Chang’s absence had not disrupted the team, with his advice still fresh in the players’ minds.
"I will remember his message to me and do what he told me to do," said Redzuan.
"At this worlds, I don’t want to think too far ahead. I just want to stay calm when I go into each match.
"I did not even look at the draw because I did not want to put pressure on myself. My coaches always remind me about that, including Hoon Thien How, Hazwan Jamaluddin and coach Pang Cheh Chang," said Redzuan.
Redzuan arrived in Cairo as the Asian junior mixed doubles champion after winning the title with Low Zi Yu in July.
Malaysia made a solid start at the Cairo International Stadium, with Kong Wei Xiang beating Matic Cerar 11-9 in the boys’ singles before Carine Tee overcame Tinkara Alic to extend the score to 22-19.
Redzuan then partnered Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim to beat Nikita Peshekhonov-Jurij Jeceli 33-21 in the boys’ doubles.
Genevie Lim-Zi Yu followed with a 44-25 win over Tinkara Alic-Tija Horvat before Redzuan-Zi Yu completed the first game with a 55-27 victory over Nikita Peshekhonov-Tija Horvat.
Malaysia were even more dominant in the second game.
Tiew Wei Jie beat Peshekhonov 11-2, while Lee Kay Xin defeated Horvat to make it 22-7.
Damien Ling-Irfan Shazmir then overcame Matic Cerar-Maks Mattias 33-11 before Rachel Tan-Teh Xin Ying beat Tinkara Alic-Tija Horvat 44-10.
Irfan and Genevie wrapped up the 2-0 win with a 55-2 victory over Matic Cerar-Tinkara Alic in the mixed doubles.
Malaysia face Poland on Tuesday (Oct 5), with victory enough to seal top spot in Group A1.
