AFTER a three-week search for the most talented badminton players among Malaysian youth, the Axiata Cup Juniors screened 24 winners who will now take on a bigger stage in next month’s National Finals.
The Axiata Cup Juniors Talent Search journeyed its way through 12 states from Perlis to Johor, and the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
An estimated 1,300 students from government, private institutions and badminton academies paraded their skills after going through a filtration process led by 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.
The 12 boys and 12 girls who emerged champions in the respective states at the end of the preliminary stage will now compete in the National Finals from Dec 4 to 7 at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras — in the hope to be crowned Axiata Cup Juniors national champion.
In Negri Sembilan, SMJK Chan Wa 2 Fourth Former, Ngai Yong Kien defeated Lee Jia Jun 21-9, 21-18 to emerge the boys’ champion while Kelly Siow Zhi Xin of SMK King George V overcame a determined Lee An Nie 21-12, 21-18 in the girls’ final.
Doubles specialist Helmie Zulhaidee Zulman, 16, of SMK Segambut, surprised all by claiming the boys’ singles title in the Kuala Lumpur trials with a 21-18, 21-16 victory over 15-year-old Lim Jia Lek from Chong Hwa Independent High School, Jalan Ipoh.
“I have never played in a singles match in any tournament before this as I am more of a doubles player. My coach told me of the Axiata Cup Juniors and persuaded me to take up the challenge,” said Helmie. “I am excited with this victory and will train hard for the National Finals.”
Dyvylyn Saha of SMK Seri Bintang Selatan defeated Ng Joe Ee 21-5, 21-8 in the girls’ final.
In Johor, 13-year-old Low Yi Sheng of SMK Seri Perling won the first game 21-9 against Richie Ting Wei Jing, an opponent three years older than him. In the second game, Low led 5-0 before Richie, a Form Four student at SMK Skudai, conceded the match after suffering cramps in both legs.
Nur Azlinda Azlin Hassim of SMK Convent Muar emerged champion in the girls’ division after going through a three-game battle against Tang Ying Hui to win 14-21, 23-21, 21-18 in the final.
All the state champions and runner-ups received RM500 each for their efforts while the schools the players represented also received RM300 as a token of appreciation.
ROLL OF HONOUR (state champions)
PERLIS — Boys: Yee Bin Xian (SMK Syed Hassan, Kangar); Girls: Nur Rizuwani (SMK Syed Hassan, Kangar).
JOHOR — Boys: Low Yi Sheng (SMK Seri Perling); Girls: Nur Azlinda Azlin Hassim (SMK Convent Muar).
KEDAH — Boys: Ng Yong Chai (SMK St Michael, Alor Star); Girls: Eng Sin Jou (SMK St Michael, Alor Star).
KUALA LUMPUR — Boys: Helmie Zulhaidee Zulman (SMK Segambut); Girls: Dyvylyn Saha Davincy Saha (SMK Seri Bintang Selatan).
MALACCA — Boys: Tai Chuan Zhe (SMK Katholik); Girls: Hamisya Hashudin (SMK Seri Kota).
PAHANG — Boys: Nabeel Azriq Nazri (SMK Sultan Abu Bakar, Kuantan); Girls: Wong Jia Mei (SMK Air Putih, Kuantan).
KELANTAN — Boys: Mohammad Akram Mohd Razi (SMK Putera, Kota Baru); Girls: Tuan Nur Aina Nazirah Tuan Daud (SM Agama (1) Nurul Ittifak, Pasir Puteh).
TERENGGANU — Boys: Muhammad Shahfuan Mat Desa (SMK Bukit Nenas, Setiu); Girls: Hafizah Adila Hasran (SMK Dato Razali Ismail, Kuala Terengganu).
SELANGOR — Boys: Wong Kin Pan (Sri Sempurna International School, Cheras); Girls: Chen Ai Yin (SMK Katholik, Petaling Jaya).
PERAK — Boys: Tan Choong Yen (Tenby Ipoh International School); Girls: Ting Ee Chin (SMJK Yuk Choy).
PENANG — Boys: Ng Wei Shun (SMK Jalan Damai); Girls: Ooi Shi Jie (SMJK Jit Sin).
NEGRI SEMBILAN — Boys: Ngai Yong Kien (SMK Chan Wa 2, Seremban); Girls: Kelly Siow Zhi Xin (SMK King George V, Seremban).