Bukit Jalil Sports School’s M. Thinaah has established herself as a hot favourite to make the quarter-finals in the Girls’ Under-18 singles and stay on course for the title in the 100PLUS National Junior Circuit Finals after notching her second win in Group A at the Kedah Badminton Association (KBA) Hall in Alor Star on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old zSelangor-born Thinaah strolled past her former teammate Lee Zhi Qing in only 14 minutes with a 21-7, 21-10 win. In her first match, Thinaah beat Penang’s Kong Yi Jin 21-10, 21-19.
In the absence of Lee Yin Yin and Goh Jin Wei, both of whom are now with the national back up squad, Thinaah is one step away from advancing to the quarter-finals. In her final group match on Thursday, Thinaah will face Terengganu’s Noor Hazwani Hazair. Hazwani was beaten 21-15, 18-21, 18-21 by Yi Jin in her second match.
Only the group champions will qualify for the quarter-finals when the final qualification matches are played om Thursday.
Last year Thinaah was the hot favourite to win the Under-16 title but lost to Ng Qi Suan in the semi-final. Qi Suan also beat Thinaah in the Perak Open final. Qi Suan, however, is not competing in the 100PLUS National Junior Circuit Finals.
In the recent Perak Open, Thinaah was beaten by Ng Qi Suan in the final. However, Qi Suan is not competing in Alor Star.
“Thinaah is the favourite in the absence of players like Jin Wei, Qi Suan and Jin Wei. This is her best chance to win the title and give her game a boost,” said Bukit Jalil coach Kwan Yoke Meng.
Johor’s Yap Yee also moved herself closer to the semifinals with another easy win in Group B – defeating Penang’s Chuah Xin Er 21-6, 21-9. The former Bukit Jalil Sports School student won 21-8, 21-11 against Emily Siew Ke Hui of Malacca in her first match.
In the Boys Under-18 singles category Shah Jan Shah Misfahul played only one match in the three-players Group D and it was enough to send him into the quarter-finals after he won 21-14, 21-17 against Lai Jian Hswa of Negri Sembilan after Mohd Iqram Muala Azman pulled out because of injury.
It was enough to give him top place in the group and a place in the quarter-finals.
RESULTS
Boys Under-18(Singles)
GROUP A
Tee Yong Jie (Pg) beat Leong Wei Lun (Joh) 21-14, 21-16
GROUP B
Faiza Rozain (Tg) beat Muhammad Izzuddin Shamsudin Muzli 21-15, 21-16
GROUP C
Ng Jun Yan (NS) beat Kelvin Ng (Sel) 21-18, 21-9
GROUP D
Shahzan Shah Misfahul (Sel) beat Lai Jian Hwa (NS) 21-14, 21-17
GROUP E
Lew Ming Hui (Joh) beat Mohd Zuhaily Jablin (Sab) 21-19, 21-10
Girls Under-18 (Singles)
GROUP A
Kong Yi Jin (Pg) beat Noor Hazwani Hazair (TG) 15-21, 21-18, 21-18
M. Thinaah (Bjss/Sel) beat Lee Zhi Qing (Sel) 21-7, 21-10
GROUP B
Grace Lee Yi Ling (Sab) beat Emily Siew Ke Hui (Mal) 21-19, 21-13
Yap Yee (Joh) beat Chuah Xuin Er (Pg) 21-6, 21-9
GROUP C
Nur Johanna Adryana Saha (KL) beat Lim Jee Lynn (Pg) 21-16, 21-11
Kourtney Kho Ker Yin (Swk) beat Johanne Wee Shoun Zhi (Mal) (Pg) 21-12, 21-13
GROUP D
Teoh Mei Xing (Sel) beat Wong Kelly (Joh) 21-6, 21-6
Lim Chen Yen (Pg) beat Lim Ru Guat (Pg) 21-15, 21-18
Teoh Mei Xing (Sel) beat Lim Ru Guat (Pg) 21-, 21-11
Too Shen Yee (KL) beat Wong Kelly (Joh) 18-21, 21-17, 21-13
UNDER-16 Boys (Singles)
GROUP A
Eddrall Atek (Sab) beat Tan Choong Yen (PK) 21-11, 21-15
GROUP B
Toh Zu Qi (Kel) beat Yap Yi Jie (KL) 16-21, 21-11, 21-17
GROUP C
Lim Yik Fong (Sel) beat Shamsul Anwaruddin Ariffin (Mal) 21-15, 21-15
GROUP D
Ng Eng Cheong (Pg) beat Zheng (Joh) beat 21-17, 21-13
GROUP E
Neville Baptist Luaran (Sab) beat Low Ming Jun (KL) 16-21, 21-16, 21-16
GROUP F
K. Jhothiswaran (Sel) beat Sim Wee Ping (Joh) 21-7, 21-10
GROUP G
Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (Sel) beat Tan Kok Xian (KL) 21-1321
GROUP H
Wong Seng Khen (Mal) beat Lim Yik Shen (Sel) 21-19, 17-21, 21-15
GIRLS (Singles)
GROUP A
Kam Wei Li (Swk) beat Ting Ee Chin (PK) 21-18, 16-21, 21-16
GROUP B
Hamisya Hashuddin (Mal) beat Ooi Shi Jie (Pg) 21-10, 21-15
GROUP C
N. Saranya (Sel) beat Sara Uli Saragi (KL) 21-15, 21-15
GROUP D
Goh Yi Xuan (Pg) beat Oon Ai Xuan (KL) 21-18, 21-19
GROUP E
Lee Shun Mei (Pg) beat Cindy Goh Hui Jin (Mal) 21-17, 21-13
GROUP F
Petricia Eleng Samin (Sab) beat Loo Cheng Yee (Mal) 21-13, 21-12
GROUP G
Tang Wen Xin (KL) beat Lim Jing Ning (Pg) 21-19, 14-21, 21-13
GROUP H
Zuelaikha Idris (NS) beat M. Selinaah (Sel) 21-19, 21-15
