Kuala Lumpur, 9 May 2024 – This year’s edition of the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship will feature a new category, the Under-11 Boys and Girls Singles category introduced for the benefit of younger players.
Allianz Malaysia Berhad Chief Executive Officer Sean Wang said that with this new category, a larger pool of players can be identified as potential talents for the future. Currently, the youngest category in AJBC is the Under-13 Boys and Girls.
“Over the last two years, parents, teachers and officials have asked us to look into the possibility of adding a new category for Under-11 players. Not many are aware that a year or two difference in age can make a difference in terms of physical strength and size. After careful consideration of their feedback, we decided it was the right time to introduce a new age group for the benefit of younger players. This third edition of the AJBC promises to be more exciting with this new category,” said Sean.
For the record, four of AJBC’s players have been selected to enter the prestigious Bukit Jalil Sports School and last year, several Under-15 Grand Finalist were invited for Akademi Badminton Malaysia trials.
“I am extremely pleased with this development as it goes to show that AJBC is moving in the right direction and aligns in what we set out to do. Our goal has always been to support Malaysian badminton by presenting more opportunities for all players (both boys and girls) to compete in a competitive environment nationwide,” added Sean.
Last year, over 2,500 players participated in AJBC and entries are expected to rise to 3,000 this year in the 10 Qualifying Rounds. The opening round took place in Taiping, Perak last weekend and will be followed by Penang (17–19 May). Qualifying Rounds will be staged in various venues around the country such as Alor Setar, Cheras, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kluang, Pengkalan Chepa, Bukit Beruang and Kuantan.
The Perak leg which was held last weekend in Taiping, was ‘Girl Power” all the way with Nur Aina Maisarah from SMK Sri Intan clinching a double in the singles and doubles category in the Girl’s Under-15 followed by Tan Zhi Ying from SMJK San Min in the Girl’s Under-13.
The AJBC Grand Finals, featuring Under-13 and Under-15 finalists from all the Qualifying Rounds, will take place at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara from 20–25 November. Each round will see 24 players qualifying for the finals. The Under-11 players will not advance to the AJBC Grand Finals.
As in previous years, players participating in the AJBC Qualifying Rounds does not have to pay any entrance fees. The top three winners in the Qualifying Rounds, for all age categories, will earn RM500, RM300 and RM150 (singles) and RM600, RM400 and RM200 (doubles). Players finishing in the top three at the Grand Finals will pocket RM1,000, RM600 and RM300 (singles) and RM1,200, RM800 and RM400 (doubles).
For more information and those who are keen to participate in AJBC, please visit www.allianz.com.my/ajbc
Results
Under-15
Boy’s Singles: S. Sivenesh, BM High School
Boy’s Doubles: Bryan Chun and Chiam Dar Hern, SMK Seri Bintang Selatan
Girl’s Singles: Nur Aina Maisarah, SMK Sri Intan
Girl’s Doubles: A. Baavanya, SMK Perempuan Methodist and Nur Aina Maisarah, SMK Sri Intan
Under-13
Boy’s Singles: Zannhin Yap, Axcel International School
Boy’s Doubles: Braxton Ling, SMK Methodist Ayer Tawar Perak and Cheng Jia Hao, Yik Ching High School
Girl’s Singles: Tan Zhi Ying, SMJK San Min
Girl’s Doubles: Tan Zhi Ying, SMJK San Min and Yong Hui Teng, SMJK Ayer Tawar
Under-11
Boy’s Singles: Liu Yi Kang, SJKC Chung Kwok
Girl’s Singles: Lim En Yu, SJKC Keat Hwa S
AJBC 2024’s Qualifying Round details are as follows:
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