Budding shuttlers show spunk and skills at tournament in Kedah

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THE Kota Setar Community Sport and Recreation Club (KSRR) have become the conduit to unearth young badminton talents for Kedah.

Several new talents came to the fore in the KSRR Under-10 and Under-12 singles tournament held at the Kedah Badminton Association (KBA) Hall.

The finalists in the respective categories did exceptionally well throughout the tournament.

They exhibited excellent skill, reasonably good court craft and fighting spirit over the two days of the recent event.

In the Boys’ Under-12 category, Mohd Farhan Fais of Mergong Recreation Club (MRC) ultimately emerged champion by defeating top seed Ooi Jhy Dar (Tan Kuan Club) in the final by 21-10, 21-11.

Jhy Dar was last year’s Under-10 champion but Farhan was a newcomer on the scene.

Last year’s losing finalist in the Boys’ Under-10 category Jacky Kok Jing Hong (Kota Setar BA) took the title in his second attempt this time around by beating newcomer Mohd Ariff Kosim (MRC) 21-12, 21-8 in the final.

Keep it up: Boys' Under-10 champion Jacky Kok (left) and runner-up Mohd Ariff posing for the press

In the Girls category, only the Under-10 event was played as the Under-12 failed to attract enough entries.

The title was won by unseeded Nur Syaza Roshidi (MRC) who defeated top seeded Amira Nabilah Yusrizah, also from MRC, in straight games of 21-12, 21-14 in the final.

Congratulations: Girls' Under-10 champion Nur Syaza (left) and runner-up Amira Nabilah showing their prizes at the prize presentation ceremony

MRC coach Ang Chuan Teng said that the tournament, inaugurated in 2008, had become an avenue to spot talents at a young age.

“I anticipate a bright future for all those players who made it to the finals in their respective categories.

“These players picked up the game only about two years ago and, with parental support, their interest has been kindled and this has resulted in them showing all-round improvement,” he added.

“They are destined to follow in the footsteps of past champions of this tournament, like Pearly Tan Koong Le, Jolynn Lim Chea Ru, Lim Hui Hui, Ong Wei Jian and Abdul Jalil Sidik who are winning titles at the state level now,” he said.

Pearly, who was Under-10 champion in 2008, went on to win the state Under-10 title in 2009 and the Kedah schools Under-12 title this year.

Hui Hui, the Under-10 champion in 2009, won the Kedah schools Under-12 doubles title with Pearly this year, while 2008 Under-12 champion Jolynn became the Kedah Junior runner-up and Kedah schools Under-15 singles champion this year.

Let's celebrate: The tournament's champions and runners-up with their medals and envelopes containing cash prizes posing for a photo with Lye Kim at the KBA Hall in Alor Setar

Abdul Jalil beat Chua Soo Jeff to become Under-12 champion last year, and they joined forces to win the Kedah schools Under-12 doubles title this year.

“The organisers KSRR are doing a wonderful job to promote the game in the district, and I would suggest that they open up the tournament to players from other districts so that more talents can be on show,” said Chuan Teng, a former Kedah BA coach who joined MRC recently.

The champion of each event received a cash prize of RM150 and a medal, while the runner-up received RM80 and a medal.

Prizes were presented by KSRR secretary Teh Lye Kim.