KUALA LUMPUR: SEEN as a gateway to search and develop a new breed of players among the youth, the Axiata Cup Juniors revealed its first batch of eight talented players — four boys and four girls, who emerged champions of their respective states after a selection process held recently.
Wong Kin Pan, 15, overcame a resilient challenge from Abu Ubaidah in the final of the boys’ division of the Selangor chapter at the Michael Badminton Academy in Puchong.
The Fourth Form student of Seri Sempurna International School in Cheras, who quite resembles China’s badminton ace Chen Long, raced to a 21-13, 21-16 victory over Abu Ubaidah in 40 minutes with deceptive drop shots and well controlled net-play to advance to the National Finals at the Kuala Lumpur BA Stadium in Cheras on Dec 4.
Joining Wong at the KLBA Stadium next month will be SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya’s Chen Ai Yin, who obtained 8As in the PMR last year.
The 16-year-old lass had an easy game against Martina Leong Wei Chen as she breezed to a 21-9, 21-4 victory.
“It was a tough match in the first game but I kept my composure intact and tried to make less errors,” said Wong, a prodigy of 1985 world champion Han Jian from China who is the chief coach at the Setia Badminton Academy in Cheras. Han Jian was also one of the national coaches when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1992.
“I have been training under a panel of coaches led by Han Jian and today I am really excited with this victory in the final. I hope to maintain my form going into the Grand Finals,” he added.
In Kelantan, Mohammad Akram Mohd Razi, 16, and Tuan Nur Aina Nazirah Tuan Daud, 13, emerged champions in the boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively at the Shape Up Sports Centre in Pengkalan Chepa 2, Kota Baru.
Mohammad Akram from SMK Putera in Kota Baru defeated Chan Wei Lun in the final while Tuan Nur Aina of SMK Agama (1) Nurul Ittifak, Pasir Putih, edged Ruhul Atifah Roslan.
Muhammad Shahfuan Mat Desa and Hafizah Adila Hasran, both 14, will represent Terengganu in the National Finals after emerging champions in their divisions while Pahang will be spearheaded by 13-year-old Nabeel Azriq Nazri who defeated Sam Victor, an opponent two years old than him, in the boys’ final.
It was the same script in the girls’ category as Wong Jia Meng, 13, from SMK Air Putih, Kuantan produced enough fire-power to get the better of Izzati Nur Nadiah in the final held at the Kilas Kilat Racket Club in Bandar Indera Mahkota.
All the state champions and runner-ups received RM500 each for their efforts while the schools the players represented received RM300 as a token of appreciation.
Those who make the grade during the tryouts will compete to be state champions and then move on to be crowned Axiata Cup Juniors National champion, paving the way as the future life-blood of badminton in Malaysia.
Former international Cheah Soon Kit, who won the men’s doubles silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics together with Yap Kim Hock, and his panel of selectors will pick 12 boys and 12 girls at the end of the preliminary stage to compete at the National Finals.