Teenager Anna ready to live her dream at world meet
KUALA LUMPUR: Club shuttler Anna Cheong Ching Yik is still on cloud nine after qualifying for the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from Aug 21-27.
The 19-year-old, from the Ampang Jaya Badminton Club, was told by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) last month that she and her Indonesian partner Ririn Amelia will be playing in the women’s doubles.
The 2016 Singapore Youth Under-18 champions are ranked 51st in the world.
Anna has been partnering the 24-year-old Ririn since May last year.
Said the Malacca shuttler: “I still can’t believe that I’d be representing Malaysia at the world meet. It’s the biggest tournament in my career.
“Ririn and I have a unique arrangement. We only train a few days before tournaments. She is based in Jakarta and I’m here. Despite these challenges, we have managed to make the cut.
“We’re realistic about our chances and we know it’ll be tough. Our goal is to gain as much as experience as possible and to just enjoy the moment.”
Anna and Ririn have put up some commendable performances over the last one year.
They reached the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Masters in 2016. Last year, they made the semi-finals of the Hanoi Inter- national Challenge, Trang International Challenge and the Malaysian International Series.
Anna is happy that her badminton career has taken flight since leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) set-up early last year.
“I was with the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) for five years. Unfortunately, I was not promoted to the national back-up squad,” she said.
“It was disappointing. Fortunately, Ampang Jaya club took me under their wings and revived my career.
“Ririn and I have played in the Purple League and our club also send us for overseas tournaments. I really appreciate what my club has done for me,” she said.
“I also want to thank our sponsors Aeon Credit Service, Sen Heng, Dr Ko Badminton Academy and Apacs for their support.”
The other qualifiers for the world meet are world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and Zulfadli Zulkiffli (men’s singles); Yap Rui Chen (women’s singles); Goh V ShemTan Wee Kiong, Low Juan ShenChooi Kah Ming (men’s doubles); Sannatasah Saniru (women’s doubles); Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, K. Yogendran (mixed doubles).
Sannatasah will partner Swiss Nadia Fankhauser and Yogendran will pair up with India’s Prajakta Sawant.