PETALING JAYA: Women’s singles shuttler Siti Zulaikha Azmi ended her wait for a senior title when she captured the Malaysian International Series.
Second seed Zulaikha stayed steady to beat China’s unseeded Luo Shengxuan 21-13, 21-16 in the final in Johor yesterday.
The 18-year-old, who won bronze in the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta in July, needed some time to find her feet again after suffering a heel injury in August but showed signs of returning to her best form in the home tourney.
Zulaikha suffered a heartbreak when she was forced to miss what would have been her last World Junior Championships last month due to her injury but has overcome her disappointment to end her title drought.
Women’s singles coach Jeffer Rosobin was pleased with Zulaikha’s showing in the tournament.
“Zulaikha has slowly gained her confidence again after her injury. She performed well in this tournament,” said Jeffer.
“I hope this title win will give her a boost for her next tournaments.”
Zulaikha will compete next in the Vietnam International Series which starts on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, women’s doubles pair Cheng Su Hui-Lee Xin Jie missed the opportunity to win their first title after going down 13-21, 18-21 to China’s Lin Fangling-Zhou Xinru in their maiden final.
It was disappointment for Su Hui-Xin Jie, who are both among the players under evaluation in the women’s doubles team in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The duo will be out to end their title drought when they compete next in the Vietnam tourney.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Richie Richardo (Ina) bt Liu Haoda (Chn) 21-17, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Emanuel Febryto-Reza Purnama (Ina) bt Chen Anjun-Chen Sihang (Chn) 21-13, 21-17.
Women’s singles: Siti Zulaikha Azmi (Mas) bt Luo Shengxuan (Chn) 21-13, 21-16.
Women’s doubles: Lin Fangling-Zhou Xinru (Chn) bt Cheng Su Hui-Lee Xin Jie (Mas) 21-13, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Chen Shangyi-Lin Fangling (Chn) bt Chen Sihang-Zhou Xinru (Chn) 21-13, 21-16.
