Well done: Singles shuttler Siti Zulaikha Azmi is a bright spark at the Asian Junior meet. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Siti Zulaikha Azmi has ended the country’s seven-year medal drought in the girl’s singles event in the Asian Junior Championships after booking her spot in the semi-finals on Saturday (June 6).
The 17-year-old cleared the quarter-finals to assure a bronze after beating Taiwan’s Huang Sheng-chun 21-15, 23-21 at the Among Rogo Sports Hall in Yogyakarta.
The last Malaysian to win a girls' singles medal in the competition was Eoon Qi Xuan when she claimed a bronze medal in 2017.
Zulaikha, who is the tournament’s second seed, will have a chance to go one better when she plays third seed Xu Wenjing of China in the semi-finals later on Saturday.
Meanwhile, boy’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing also assured a bronze medal after entering the semi-finals by defeating China’s Xiao Gaobo-Xue Ziyu 21-13, 21-14 in the quarter-finals.
Aaron-Khai Xing face Taiwanese Chen Hung-ming-Tsai Cheng-han next.
Girls' doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting won another bronze for Malaysia after beating Indonesia’s Isyana Syahira-Rinjani Kwinara 23-21, 16-21, 21-15 in the quarter-finals.
Seventh seeds Xin Yee-Carmen will play third seeds Chen Fanshutian-Liu Jiayue of China in the semi-finals next.
