Winners from all categories with Allianz General Insurance Company (M) Bhd KL branch manager Fang Suat Lim (centre) after the AJBC fourth qualifying round.
WITH young Malaysian badminton star Siti Nurshuhaini Azman for an aunt, pedigree is everything for Siti Nur Aminah Abdullah.
The 13-year-old grew up surrounded by the sport through the enthusiastic involvement of her grandfather Azman Amar and father Abdullah Mohamad.
“It’s badminton or nothing for me, I suppose, as this game is part of my family.
“And with Siti Nurshuhaini making a name for herself, I want to follow suit,” said the Form One student of SMK Bukit Sentosa 2 in Rawang, Selangor.
Siti Nur Aminah won the fourth qualifying round of the Under-13 Girl’s Singles in the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur.
In the doubles category, she clinched a win with partner Adiq Puteri Waheeda from another Rawang school, SK Sungai Choh.
As it turns out, national shuttler Siti Nurshuhaini, 19, was previously an AJBC ambassador.
Other big winners at the AJBC 2024 Kuala Lumpur qualifying rounds were Under-15 Girls’ singles and doubles winner Kiera Wong of SMK Bandar Puchong Jaya (B), Selangor, and Derrick Leung of SM Kepong Baru, Kuala Lumpur, in the Under-13 Boys’ singles and doubles event.
In the Under-15 singles category, Nur Izz Danish of SMK Taman Desa 2 placed first while the doubles win went to Selangor schoolboys H’Ng Jing Xian of SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 3 and Leong Qi An of SMJK Katholik.
In the Girl’s doubles, Kiera’s partner was Eva Tham of SMJK Yu Hua, Kajang in Selangor.
In the Under-13 group, Qi An’s partner in the Boy’s doubles was Kon You Kuan of Methodist Boys Senior School Kuala Lumpur.
The champion in the Under-11 group for Boy’s singles was G. Sanjev of SRK St Thomas, Kuantan in Pahang, while the Girl’s singles title went to Veronica Rom Gaha from SJKC On Pong (2) in Ampang, Selangor.
Last year, over 2,500 players participated in the AJBC.
Entries in the 10 qualifying rounds this year are expected to rise to 3,000.
The remaining qualifying rounds will be staged nationwide in various venues in Kuching (Sarawak), Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Kluang (Johor), Pengkalan Chepa (Kelantan), Bukit Beruang (Melaka) and Kuantan (Pahang).
The AJBC grand finals, featuring Under-13 and Under-15 finalists from all the qualifying rounds, will take place from Nov 20 to 25 at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Each round will see 24 players qualifying for the finals.
The Under-11 players, however, will not advance to the grand finals.
As in previous years, players participating in the AJBC qualifying rounds do not have to pay any entrance fees.
Those finishing first, second and third in the singles qualifying rounds will get to take home RM500, RM300 and RM150 respectively.
In the same order, champions in the doubles category will be awarded RM600, RM400 and RM200.
The top three winners in the grand finals singles category will pocket RM1,000, RM600 and RM300 while doubles category winners will be awarded RM1,200, RM800 and RM400.
For registration and details on the AJBC, visit allianz.com.my/ajbc
