PETALING JAYA: The Johor Badminton Association (JHBA) are proud of Segamat-born Low Zi Yu after the 16-year-old finally became a world junior champion.
Zi Yu partnered Genevie Lim to beat Japan’s Nijika Kamata-Shizuku Kashio 15-7, 9-15, 15-12 in the girls’ doubles final at the World Junior Championships at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.
It was third time lucky for Zi Yu after she had to settle for silver in the previous two editions.
In 2024 in Nanchang, she partnered Dania Sofea Zaidi but they lost to Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto-Aya Tamaki in the final.
A year later in Guwahati, Zi Yu teamed up with Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, only to finish runners-up again after losing to China’s Tan Kexuan-Wei Yueyue.
JHBA president Datuk Chong Juong Chain hopes the breakthrough will give Zi Yu added motivation to chase bigger titles at senior level.
"We are very happy for her. She has not even been with BAM for a year and she has already shown her talent by becoming a world junior champion.
“Zi Yu has always performed well and she is also a very kind person. We have always been proud of her.
“We hope she can go on to win bigger tournaments and bring more success to Malaysia,” said Juong Chain.
Zi Yu began playing badminton at the Segamat Spiritual Badminton Club when she was six and later became an important member of the Johor team.
Among her biggest achievements for Johor was winning gold at the 2024 Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) with Dania.
Zi Yu had previously received several call-ups from BAM to join the national set-up but had to turn them down due to health issues.
She only became a full-time trainee at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara at the start of this year.
