Tan Zhi Ying marched into two semifinals of the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship 2024 Grand Finals here at the Stadium Juara.
The 13-year-old from SMJK San Min in Teluk Intan, Perak was almost on a clean sweep from the preliminary round to the quarterfinals of the Girls’ Singles and Doubles.
Zhi Ying won Group B of the Girls’ Singles, where after receiving a bye in the first round, went on to beat Nur Iffah Husna Mohd Nasir (from Sekolah Menengah Jalan Reko, Selangor) 21-15, 21-13.
She was fully tested by Zafirah Izza Mohd Zamlee (SMK Zainab 2, Kelantan) but survived the second game 21-14, 20-22, 23-21 in 50 minutes before romping 21-11, 21-12 past Rosella Tania Anak Rant @ Rantie (SJK Nam Kiew, Sarawak) for a perfect record in Group B.
In the quarterfinals, Zhi Ying kept her focus to fend off the challenge of Yong Hui Teng (SMJK Ayer Tawar, Perak) 19-21, 21-10, 21-16 for a spot in the semifinals where she will face Siti Nur Aminah Abdullah (SMK Bukit Sentosa 2, Selangor) tomorrow.
In the Girls’ U13 Doubles, Zhi Ying then alongside Hui Teng won Group B in spite of dropping a match.
They started their campaign with a 21-17 21-19 victory over Honney Goh (SMK Tun Perak, Selangor)-Ko Zhi Ching (SJKC Chung Hua 1B, Selangor) as then they made short work of Syarifah Fashira Dayana Syed Jamalludin (SJKC Kay Sin, Penang)-Teoh Wen Yuan (SMJK Jit Sin, Penang) 21-8, 21-12 in just 19 minutes.
Zhi Ying-Hui Teng then went on to pick their third win in Group B after setting aside Ayra Zalea Hairey (SMK Jalan Reko, Selangor)-Nur Iffah Husna Mohd Nasir (SMK Jalan Reko, Selangor) 21-17, 19-21, 21-19.
But Zhi Ying-Hui Teng could not maintain their momentum as they dropped their last game in Group B to concede 20-22, 21-13, 18-21 to Chiara Diaz Lau Jit Wai (SK.ST. Dominic, Sabah)-Sarah Nur Balqis Ibrahim (Maktab Sabah).
In spite of the loss, Zhi Ying-Hui Teng still won Group B of the Girls’ U13 Doubles where in the quarterfinals, they took just 20 minutes to dump Chong Wan Xin (SMK Air Putih, Pahang)-Denise Hang Xuan Chee (SJKC Pooi Ming, Pahang) 21-18, 21-6.
In the semifinals tomorrow, Zhi Ying-Hui Teng will face Kedah duo Ang Sin Yin (SMJK Keat Hwa, Kedah)-See Jie Le (SMK Ayer Hitam, Kedah).
