Razif and Justin spell a great future for juniors
PETALING JAYA: Budding shuttlers Justin Hoh and Mohd Fazriq Razif could be the answer to Malaysia’s lack of options in the boys’ doubles department.
Just 15, the pair continued to flourish when they bagged their fourth international title by winning the Under-19 Bangladesh International Series in Dhaka on Sunday.
Justin-Fazriq lived up to their top billing when they defeated teammates Eogene Ewe Eon-Ong Zhen Yi 13-21, 22-20, 21-12 at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium.
It was their first win of the season after finishing runners-up to their seniors Yap Roy King-Ooi Jhy Dar at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge in Putrajaya in August.
Justin-Fazriq won three titles last year – at the Singapore Junior International Series, Asian Junior Championships and Jakarta Junior International Open – all of them in the Under-15 category.
Justin-Fazriq’s victory in the Under-19 junior title was nothing short of impressive.
The two had been partnering each other since 2015 when they represented Kuala Lumpur in the national junior scene, winning a number of titles, including the National School Sports Council (MSSM).
If their progress is anything to go by, they are certainly a shoo-in for two major tournaments — the Asian and World Junior Championships next year.
With Jhy Dar and Roy King both set to be promoted to the senior squad, the Under-18 squad are left with just Wan Arif Wan JunaidiMohd Haikal Nazri as their established boys’ doubles pair.
Besides the boys’ doubles, our shuttlers also swept the girls and mixed doubles titles.
Cheng Su Yin bagged a grand double, first by partnering her sister Su Hui to outplay Nepal’s Jessica Gurung-Rasila Maharjan with a 21-8, 21-7 win for the girls’ doubles glory before returning barely two hours later to team up with Gan Boon Zhe to clinch the mixed doubles title.
They beat Chong Ee Jack-Odelia Wong Qiao Shi 21-8, 21-17 in an all-Malaysian affair.
Malaysia missed out on a fourth title through Ong Ken Yon in the boys’ singles competition.
World No. 87 Ken Yon failed to repeat his shocking win over India’s world No. 8 Meiraba Luwang in the Indian Junior International Challenge final in September. Ken Yon lost 14-21, 18-21 to Meiraba this time.