Badminton: Zulfadli plans to work on becoming junior champion
Latest News 4:02 PM
IPOH: Youngster Zulfadli Zulkifli has learnt two valuable
lessons from a tame defeat by Lee Chong Wei in the second round of Perak
Open on Thursday.
The 17-year-old, playing for Kuala Lumpur, knows that he is not ready for the big stage just yet and his task is to concentrate on working to become the first Malaysian to emerge as the singles champion in both the Asian and world junior championships next year.
Zulfadli, who slowed down from playing badminton for the last three months because of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, said that he would be able to devote more time to the game next year.
“I played against Chong Wei once when I was 14. Unfortunately, I could not raise my game in my second meeting against him too. He was too good and too fast for me and I lacked preparation,” said Zulfadli, who lost the match 9-21, 8-21.
“From now, I can go full-time into badminton. I will focus on ending my junior career on a high note next year.”
Zulfadli will no longer be eligible to compete in the Asian and world junior championships in 2012.
“Currently, my world ranking is quite low. I will continue to play in international tournaments to win ranking points and also to gain as much experience as possible,” he said.
On whether he would want to join the national badminton set-up now that he has completed his SPM, Zulfadli said: “I have not decided yet.
“Anyway, there is not much difference whether I am in or out. I only miss out on quality sparring but I can make up by competing in many tournaments.”
The 17-year-old, playing for Kuala Lumpur, knows that he is not ready for the big stage just yet and his task is to concentrate on working to become the first Malaysian to emerge as the singles champion in both the Asian and world junior championships next year.
Zulfadli, who slowed down from playing badminton for the last three months because of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, said that he would be able to devote more time to the game next year.
“I played against Chong Wei once when I was 14. Unfortunately, I could not raise my game in my second meeting against him too. He was too good and too fast for me and I lacked preparation,” said Zulfadli, who lost the match 9-21, 8-21.
“From now, I can go full-time into badminton. I will focus on ending my junior career on a high note next year.”
Zulfadli will no longer be eligible to compete in the Asian and world junior championships in 2012.
“Currently, my world ranking is quite low. I will continue to play in international tournaments to win ranking points and also to gain as much experience as possible,” he said.
On whether he would want to join the national badminton set-up now that he has completed his SPM, Zulfadli said: “I have not decided yet.
“Anyway, there is not much difference whether I am in or out. I only miss out on quality sparring but I can make up by competing in many tournaments.”
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 4:02 PM.
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