Latest news with #Dania-ZiYu
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Quietly confident Noraqilah-Aina aim for Asian Juniors podium
KUALA LUMPUR: While top girls' doubles Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu are expected to hog the limelight, a fresh-faced pair are quietly eyeing a breakthrough at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) in Surakarta, Indonesia. Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, 18, and Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta, 16, are relishing their underdog role ahead of the tournament, which starts with the mixed team event from July 18-22, followed by the individual competition from July 23-27. As Malaysia's No. 2 junior pair, Noraqilah-Aina are happy to let the spotlight stay on Dania-Zi Yu — last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists. "We both know Dania-Zi Yu are the top pair. I think all the attention will be on them," said Noraqilah at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. "For us, there's no pressure. We'll just go out there, give it our best, and show we deserve to be on this stage." Formed only in April after Aina joined the national junior squad, the partnership has already shown promise. In just their second tournament together, they made a surprise run to the final of the Slovak Open in May. They've since reached the quarter-finals at both the Austrian Open and the Malaysia Junior International Challenge. "We weren't expecting to reach the final in Slovakia since we're still a new pair," said Noraqilah. "But for the Asian Juniors, we do have a goal — we want to finish on the podium if possible." Their strong on-court chemistry has been key to their early success. Both bring speed, aggression and solid communication. "We can match each other's pace. We're both quite fast, and we talk well during matches," said Aina. "Even when things go wrong, we find solutions together quickly." The pair, who can switch seamlessly between net and backcourt roles, will start with the mixed team event before turning their attention to the individual competition. With no pressure and plenty of upside, Noraqilah-Aina could just be Malaysia's surprise package in Surakarta.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Shuttlers' dreams rise at Asian Juniors but coach keeps them on guard
PETALING JAYA: The recent fine performances of the junior shuttlers has raised hopes for a positive outing in the Asian Junior Championships but national junior doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang is remaining cautious of his charges' chances in the tournament starting on Friday in Solo, Indonesia. Girls' doubles pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and mixed doubles duo Loh Ziheng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan especially are heading into the Asian meet on a high after capturing titles in the Malaysian Junior International Challenge in Perlis last week. Dania-Zi Yu, who bagged silver in the world junior meet last year, are Malaysia's best bets for gold in Solo while Ziheng-Noraqilah have also enhanced their chances for at least a medal with their positive showing at home. Malaysia's other medal hopefuls are likely to be Dania and Datu Anif Asrah in the mixed doubles and Ziheng-Tan Zhi Yang in the boys' doubles after both pairs finished runners-up in Perlis. Cheh Chang though believes his charges will face a tougher challenge in the Asian meet due to the presence of the likes of China, Japan and South Korea, who did not compete in the Malaysian tourney. 'Overall, our players' performances have been okay so far but we haven't met teams like China, Korea, Japan, India and Taiwan,' said Cheh Chang. 'The most important part for us is preparation and team work. We have to go step by step.' Dania-Zi Yu and their teammates will first compete in the mixed team event which will be held from July 18-22 before turning their attentions to the individual event from July 23-27. In the mixed team competition, Malaysia have been placed in Group B along with Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and Myanmar. Only the top two teams in the group will progress to the quarter-finals. In last year's edition, Malaysia won a silver through Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing (boys' doubles) while Siti Zulaikha Azmi (girls' singles), Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting (girls' doubles) and mixed team all contributed bronze medals.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Make use of Dania, Zi Yu wisely'
KUALA LUMPUR: The inexperienced Malaysian squad will be relying on girls' pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu at the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia from July 18-27. World No. 244 Dania-Zi Yu, who were runners-up at the World Junior Championships last October, are among the remaining members from the previous squad, with boys' doubles Datuk Anif Asrah and girls' doubles Noraqilah Maisarah Radan. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said the coaches need to ensure Dania-Zi Yu are utilised wisely to achieve Malaysia's goal of a podium finish. Zi Yu will also compete in the girls' singles while Sofea is also down to play in the mixed doubles to improve the team's medal chances. "They need to be utilised wisely as the team and individual events in the Asan Juniors are normally taxing," said Rexy. "They will be the first choice for the team event and this will be followed by the individual draw which is a 64-draw and the coaches must mange this well. "Most of the players this year are making their debuts and we are not setting high targets for medals." Sofea-Zi Yu's chances look good as powerhouses China and Japan have entered mostly new faces in the girls' doubles. However, the coaches should consider the 15-year-old Zi Yu's medical condition, hyperthyroidism, before playing her in too many events. Primarily a singles player, Zi Yu switched to the doubles due to her medical condition last year. Thus, it will be wise if the coaches let her focus on the girls' doubles with Sofea where they have a realistic chance of winning gold.
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Dania-Zi Yu spearhead Malaysia's challenge at Asian meet
KUALA LUMPUR: Girls' doubles Dania Sofea-Low Zi Yu will lead Malaysia's challenge at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships (BAJC) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The team event is from July 18-22 and the individual competition from July 23-27. Dania-Zi Yu, who were last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists, won the Slovak Open earlier this month. Compatriots Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan-Nur Aina Maisarah Hatta, who finished runners-up to Dania-Zi Yu in the Slovak Open, are also in the team to Yogyakarta. The others are Lee Mun, Oo Shan Zi, Eng Ler Qi, Lim Zhi Shin, Nicole Tan-Nicole Chau. The boys' team consist of Razeeq Danial, Ayu Fu Sheng, Kong Wei Xiang, Lim Boon Le, Datu Anif Datu Asrah, Loh Zi Heng, Zulwaqqarizal Ahmad, Damien Ling, Shazmir Shahrul and Tan Zhi Yang. Malaysia last won the mixed team title in 2009 in Kuala Lumpur. The last Malaysian to win the BAJC boys' singles event was Leong Jun Hao in 2017.
New Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shuttlers Dania-Zi Yu capture Slovak Open crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu continued to solidify their reputation as a rising women's doubles pair after capturing their maiden senior title at the Slovak Open on Saturday. Daniai-Zi Yu, who were last year's World Junior Championships silver medallists, defeated national teammates Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan-Nur Aina Maisarah Muhamad Hatta 21-17, 21-19 in just 33 minutes at the Bratislava Multisport Hall. World No. 638 Dania-Zi Yu had overcome Germany's world No. 721 Eva Stommel-Aurelia Wulandoko, 21-12, 21-4 in the semi-finals. The newly formed pair of Noraqilah-Nur Aina had reached the final after upsetting Taiwan's world No. 492 Chang Yun Jung-Wang Li Hsuan, 21-19, 21-10. This was Dania-Zi Yu's second international title of the year, having won the Dutch Junior in March. They also reached the quarter-finals of the German Junior in the same month. However, Malaysia's hopes of clinching a double at the Slovak Open were dashed after world No. 642 Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang fell to Poland's fourth seeds Adrian Krawczyk Szymon Slepecki, 15-21, 21-12, 19-21 in a thriller in the men's doubles final.
