‘FAST FORWARD’ FOR LETSHANAA
Her teammates yet to get go-ahead for return to national training
KLETSHANAA should count her blessings and make full use of the “advantage” given to her by BAM.
Unlike her national junior teammates, who are still waiting for the green light from BAM to return to Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), Letshanaa has got the go-ahead to resume training on July 5 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
BAM have decided that it is best to fast track the 17-year-old Letshanaa by including her in the national women’s singles squad.
“I have no comments on what it feels like to be the only junior player to resume training with the rest of the senior squad but I am excited,” she said.
“As I have mentioned before, I only got to train with the national squad for two weeks before the government declared the MCO (Movement Control Order).
“So, I am looking forward to rejoining like everybody else,” said Letshanaa, who was roped in by BAM after featuring for the Asian and World Junior Championships squads last year.
However, much to her surprise, Letshanaa “bypassed” the entire junior development programme to join the older players, and yet she is still eligible to play in junior tournaments next year.
Being the youngest in the group, Letshanaa is both anxious and excited to learn from her senior teammates, including two-time world junior champion, Goh Jin Wei, 2019 Sea Games champion, S. Kisona, and national No 1, Soniia Cheah.
The other players in the squad are Lee Ying Ying and Eoon Qi Xuan.
As Letshanaa has spent two weeks with the team before, she hopes it will help her quickly adapt to the coaching style of Indra Wijaya, who was recently appointed to head the women’s singles department, replacing Tey Seu Bock.
“I look up to all the players in the team. I hope to learn from them.
“As far as the coaches are concerned, I can’t say much as I have had only two weeks of experience,” added Letshanaa, who is a big fan of Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying.