Arena doesn’t let Letshanaa get away this time in Under-16 final in JB.

PETALING JAYA: National junior shuttler Arena Satu Amin (pic) exacted sweet revenge on K. Letshanaa of Selangor to become the girls’ Under-16 champion in the second leg of the 100PLUS National Junior Circuit in Johor Baru.

With her win, Sabah won four out of the 12 titles at stake yesterday.

Arena defeated the top seed with a 15-21, 21-16, 21-16 win in 50 minutes at the Johor Badminton Association Hall in Larkin.

In the first-leg final in Penang, she went down tamely 11-21, 11-21 to Letshanaa.

Arena was elated with her win over Letshanaa, who are both touted to be in the national women’s singles team.

“Frankly, I was ill-prepared for this tournament. I’m surprised that I could beat her,” said Arena.

“She obviously could not cope with my speed and aggressiveness. I think she was also frustrated that I could absorb all her pressure.”

Sabah are well on their way to emerge as a badminton powerhouse at the junior level as they also swept the boys’ singles, girls’ singles and girls’ doubles in the Under-14 through Andrew Aguwell, Jovine Calvin and Sharlynn Vivian George-Cassey Rynn Rompog respectively.

Sabah coach Rompog Imbun hailed his charges’ displays in the first two legs thus far.

“If they can keep this up, we can expect better things at the National Junior Grand Prix Finals later this year,” said Rompog.

“We did not prepare well due to financial constraints. However, commitment and the desire to win overrode our shortcomings.”

Selangor won three titles but top seed Chua Kim Sheng failed to retain his Under-16 boys’ singles title. He was stunned by Kuala Lumpur’s unseeded Hooi Shao Herng, who triumphed 18-21, 21-11, 21-13.