Malaysia’s Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim ended a decades-long wait for a girls’ doubles title at the World Junior Championships, defeating Japan’s Nijika Kamata and Shizuku Kashio in a thrilling final in Cairo.
The Malaysian second seeds recovered from dropping the second game to win 15-7, 9-15, 15-12 in 41 minutes, becoming the first Malaysian girls’ doubles pair to win the world junior crown since the tournament was introduced in 1992.
Their victory followed a strong semi-final performance, where they defeated China’s Shi Si Chen and Xiang Yu Jin 15-9, 15-11 to secure their place in the final.
However, the championship match proved to be a test of their composure. After taking the opening game, Zi Yu and Genevie lost the second to the Japanese pair, forcing a deciding game. The Malaysians managed to regain their focus under pressure and held on to secure the historic victory.
Source: NST
For Zi Yu, the gold medal was especially meaningful after two previous runner-up finishes at the World Junior Championships. She won silver with Dania Sofea Zaidi in 2024 and with Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan in 2023, making the prospect of another second-place finish a source of concern during the final.
“I thought I was going to take the third silver medal,” Zi Yu admitted after the match.
Genevie also acknowledged the pressure of the deciding game, particularly after Malaysia had finished second in the mixed team event. Both players were determined to avoid another silver-medal finish and delivered when it mattered most.
The triumph was even sweeter for Zi Yu after earlier disappointment in Cairo. Following Malaysia’s mixed team defeat to China and her early exit from the individual mixed doubles competition, she focused on making the most of her remaining opportunity in the girls’ doubles.
“After I lost my mixed doubles match, I felt sad, but after that, I just stayed positive to fight for my doubles,” she said.
The pair’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Malaysian junior badminton, ending a wait of more than three decades for a girls’ doubles world junior title. Their ability to recover from setbacks and handle the pressure of a deciding game underlined their determination throughout the tournament.
For Zi Yu and Genevie, the gold medal is a reward for their persistence and a proud moment for Malaysia, as the young pair establish themselves among the leading prospects in international junior badminton.
