Malaysian Duo to Compete for World Junior Girls’ Doubles Crown
Guwahati, India – October 18, 2024 – Low Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan of malaysia powered their way into the final of the World Junior Championships girls’ doubles competition, defeating a Chinese pairing in a thrilling semi-final match today. The victory offers Malaysia a final possibility for gold at the prestigious tournament, currently underway in Guwahati, India.
This championship run is especially meaningful for both players, representing a chance at redemption after earlier setbacks and a potential first world junior title for the team. Zi Yu aims to surpass last year’s silver medal finish, while Noraqilah seeks to rebound from a mixed doubles defeat. The final, scheduled for Sunday, October 19, will pit the Malaysians against another Chinese duo, Tan Kexuan and Wei Yuexue.
The Malaysian pair secured their place in the final with a hard-fought 46-minute victory over Cao Zihan and Chen fan Shutian of China, prevailing 15-13, 12-15, 15-7. Zi Yu, who previously competed in the final alongside Dania Sofea Zaidi last year, expressed confidence stemming from familiarity with her opponent.
“I’ve played against Fan Shu three times before, so I was able to read her game better today,” Zi Yu stated.”I tried to stay more focused and we eventually won. In the final, I will try to be tactical against the Chinese pair. I lost in the final last year, so this time I’ll give my very best to win the gold medal for my country.”
Noraqilah also experienced mixed fortunes on Saturday, having earlier fallen short in the mixed doubles alongside Loh zi Heng.The top-seeded Malaysian duo were unexpectedly defeated by Taiwan’s Hung Bing-fu and Chou Yun-an, 15-13, 12-15, 8-15, despite having defeated the same Taiwanese team twice the previous week at the world junior mixed team championships.
Other Semi-Final Results:
Boys’ Singles: Mohd Zaki Ubaidillah (Ina) bt Li Zhi Hang (chn) 14-16, 16-14, 15-12; Liu Yang Ming (Chn) bt Richie Duta Richardo (Ina) 15-7, 10-15, 15-13.
Girls’ singles: Tanvi Sharma (Ind) bt Liu Si Ya (Chn) 15-11, 15-9; Anyapat Phichitpreechasak (Tha) bt Yataweemin Ketklieng (Tha) 10-15, 15-11, 15-5.
Boys’ Doubles: Cho Hyeong-woo-Lee Hyeong-woo (Kor) bt Kazuma Kawano-Shuji Sawada (Jpn) 13-15,15-11,15-8.
Girls’ Doubles: Tan Ke Xuan-Wei Yue Yue (Chn) bt Kodchaporn Chaichana-Pannawee Polyiam (Tha) 17-15,11-15,15-10; Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (Mas) bt Cao Zi Han-Chen Fan Shu (chn) 15-13,12-15,15-7.
Mixed Doubles: Hung Bing-fu-Chou Yun-an (tpe) bt loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (Mas) 13-15, 15-12, 15-8; Lee Hyeong-woo-Cheon Hye-in (Kor) bt Chen Jun-ting-Cao Zi-han (Chn) 15-6, 16-14.
