PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) have tipped world junior champion Genevie Lim to be a potential Olympian, expressing hopes she will emulate the success of the state’s diving icon, Pandelela Rinong.
The 18-year-old Kuching-born shuttler recently partnered Johor’s Low Zi Yu to secure the nation’s first-ever world junior women’s doubles title in Cairo last Saturday.
The historic victory follows a challenging period for Genevie, who was dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) over a year ago due to health issues.
“We hope that Genevie will be among Sarawakians, like diving queen Datuk Pandelela Rinong, who could become an Olympian in badminton,” said SBA honorary secretary Datuk Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad yesterday at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex.
The event was held to present Genevie with a RM10,000 reward for becoming the first Sarawakian to be crowned a world junior champion.
Following her departure from BAM, the SBA supported Genevie by providing training and tournament opportunities to help her regain her competitive form. Strong performances in national Under-18 and Under-21 tournaments ultimately led to her reinstatement.
Prior to her world championship victory, Genevie claimed bronze at the Asian Junior Championships in Japan.
Wan Khalik hoped Genevie would be able to continue training full time under BAM to join the national set-up and eventually emulate the path of Sarawakian two-time Olympic medallist Pandalela.
Genevie confirmed she is currently focusing on badminton full-time as she prepares for upcoming senior-level competitions.
