Junior shuttler to lead academy’s challenge in championships

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CHALLENGER Badminton Academy (CBA) is banking on Eng Pui Yee to deliver the goods in the Fleet-Challenger Junior Badminton Championships scheduled at their new hall in Taman Cuepacs, Cheras, on Dec 5 and 6.

CBA chief coach Liew Gavin said besides Selangor junior trainee Eng, who will feature in the girls’ Under-12, the academy had selected 29 other junior shuttlers to take part in the championships.

Strong contender: Selangor shuttler Eng is the player to look out for in the Fleet-Challenger Junior Badminton Championships

This year, the 12-year-old Eng teamed up with M. Thinaah to emerge as the girls’ Under-12 doubles champions at the National Junior Badminton Circuit grand prix finals in June.

“She will be the strongest contender to vie for honours. Although we have about 100 trainees at both centres in Cheras and Petaling Jaya, most of them are beginners and are not ready to take part in the up coming tournament.

“We are only fielding players with the potential to put up a good fight and produce results in the competition,” Liew added.

Currently, the four trainers at the academy are Lin Yeet Siang, Ho Bee Ling and Agustinus Sigit Pamungkas and Yohanes Adi Nugraha.

Following the overwhelming response in their junior age-groups and open categories for recreational shuttlers in conjunction with their opening of the centre in Petaling Jaya in April, the organisers are expecting a good turnout with junior shuttlers in the fray for their year-end school holiday programme.

“Besides reaching out to players from other states, we are also expecting the trainees from other coaching stables to join the event,” Liew said.

For the boys, the four age groups are Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17.

Meanwhile, the girls will be divided into the Under-12 and Under-15 categories.

The boys and girls will be competing in both the singles and doubles.

However, each player can sign up for a maximum of two events in the two-day tournament.

The tournament is offering more than RM4,000 to the winners, runners-up and losing semi-finalists in all categories.

Entry fees for singles and doubles are RM15 for each player and RM20 for each pair respectively.

Entry closes on Nov 22 and the draw for all categories will be conducted on Nov 27.