Letshanaa during a training session - MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: K. Letshanaa is excited to make her World Tour debut in the Korean Open from July 18-23 in Yeosu.
The national women’s singles shuttler qualified for the Super 500 event, which is set to be her biggest individual tournament so far.
“It’s huge that I managed to qualify,” said Letshanaa, who is currently ranked No. 68 in the world.
“I’ll be starting from the qualifying round and I really want to make full use of this valuable opportunity.
“I want to get the feel of the environment in a big tournament.
“This will be a really good exposure for me after the Sudirman Cup (in May).”
Letshanaa will play Ireland’s Rachael Darragh in the qualifying round.
A win will see Letshanaa face either India’s Tasnim Mir or Taiwan’s Huang Ching-ping in the first round of the tournament proper.
Letshanaa is not setting any specific targets for herself in the tournament.
“There’s no pressure on me at all,” said Letshanaa.
“I’m not nervous and I just want to enjoy my matches.”
Before the Korean tourney, Letshanaa will compete in the ongoing National Championships in Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara.
It will be the 19-year-old’s first national tournament after rejoining the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in February.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the national meet after so long,” said Letshanaa.
She is seeded second in the tourney behind independent player Goh Jin Wei.
Letshanaa is set to open her campaign today against Johor’s Dania Sofea Zaidi.
