NON-BAM shuttlers can fight for places in Asian junior squad at U-18 meet

PETALING JAYA: The ongoing Nationalunder-18championships in Alor Setar will be an avenue for the non-badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) players to make it to the Asian Junior squad.

National junior chief coach Jeffer Rosobin said they are not limiting the players based at the states and clubs the chance to compete at the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta from June 28-July 7.

The non-bam players who reach the semi-finals of the singles events and pairs that make the finals of the doubles in Alor Setar will be invited for the weeklong open trials at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), which begins on May 14.

“We are opening the doors for the non-bam players to also fight for their places in the Asian Junior squad this time,” said Jeffer.

“We will make our selection based on the National Under-18 meet where players who make the semi-finals of the singles and the pairs who reach the doubles finals will be called up for the open trials next week.

“Some of our top pairs are not competing at the National Under18 event and this will further give the opportunity for the non-bam players to make the cut for the trials.”

Top boys’ doubles pairs Kang Khai Xing-aaron Tai and Mohd Faiq Haziq-lok Hong Quan are not competing in the boys’ doubles.

Faiq, however, will be playing in the boys’ singles where he is the favourite to win the title while Ong Xin Yee should have no problem securing the girls’ singles crown.

In the boys’ doubles, BAM pairs Toh E Hern-wee Yee Tern and Lim Wei Hou-amzar Hakimi Akbar are the top two seeds.

Malaysia are likely to select five players each for the singles events and name four pairs in the doubles events at the Asian Junior Championships.

Malaysia will be hoping for Khai Xing-aaron to end the title drought since 2017 where Leong Jun Hao was the last player to win a title by capturing the boys’ singles crown in Jakarta.