MALAYSIA has never been short on badminton talents, and the national junior squad continued the tradition when they bagged three titles at the Czech Junior on Sunday.
The players came out tops in the all-Malaysian boys and girls' singles finals, and the boys' doubles event.
In the boys' final, 16-year-old Eogene Ewe upstaged compatriot Jan Jireh Lee 21-16, 21-11, 21-19.
In the girls' final, 15-year-old Ong Xin Yee took top prize following a 21-19, 21-8 win over Siti Zulaikha Azmi Tan.
In the boys' doubles final, Choi Jian Sheng-Bryan Jeremy Goonting defeated England's Nadeem Dalvi-Samuel Jones 21-16, 21-17.
BA of Malaysia (BAM) assistant development director Joanne Quay said the results bode well for the players who are being groomed for the next few editions of the World Junior Championships.
"Initially, we wanted to bring these players here only for exposure, but they surprised us with remarkable performances. All of them played really well," she said.
"Some even defeated older and bigger-built opponents. It is really encouraging for the players and the national team.
"However, we reminded them that they still have another tournament — Slovak Junior next week.
The Czech Junior and the Slovak Junior next week are both Under-19 events.
"These players are only our second level of junior players. The first team, who will feature in the World Junior Championships this year, competed in Germany and Finland recently.
"The second stringers are certainly future prospects. They are good for two or three more world junior meets.
"They are our best Under-17 players.
"But it is very important that we continue to guide them well," she added.
The last time Malaysia won gold at the World Junior Championships was back in 2018 when Goh Jin Wei won her second girls' singles title.
Jin Wei, 21, unfortunately, hung up her racquet in September due to health reasons.