KUCHING: Sarawak badminton’s steady progress at junior level continues to bear fruit, as the state’s young shuttlers delivered another strong performance at the PETRONAS National Under-18 Championships 2026 (1st Leg) in Selangor.
The Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) proudly congratulated its shuttlers for an excellent double success at the tournament, held from Apr 22 to 27 at Dewan Persatuan Badminton Selangor.
The gold medal in the men’s doubles was won by Sarawakian Isyraf Hafizin and his partner Ahmad Redzuan from Terengganu, who defeated Ethan Oh Joon Hui and Wan Mohd Darwisy Wan Hadelee of the Putrajaya-Melaka pair 15-13, 15-8 in the final.
Sarawak also secured a silver medal in the women’s doubles through Genevie Lim and Wafa Shahmina, who enjoyed a strong run to the final before falling to BAM players Lee Joinne and Tan Xin Yu 15-8, 15-7.
On their way to the final, the Sarawakian pair also defeated top seeds Hasyni Devi Sahathevan and Navina Nagarajan 15-5, 15-13.
The Sarawakian pair had earlier finished as runners-up at the PETRONAS National Under-21 Championships 2026, underlining their consistency and high potential.
These results reflect the steady progress of Sarawak badminton and the growing strength of its development pathway, with players continuing to prove they can compete strongly against the best juniors in the country.
SBA president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar described the achievement as a proud and significant moment for the Sarawak badminton fraternity.
“It is also a clear sign that the state’s investment in sports development, as well as SBA’s continuous effort to nurture young badminton talents, is bearing fruit.
“We are proud of our players for their fighting spirit, discipline, and tenacity. These results show that Sarawak has the talent and potential to compete with the best in Malaysia.
“We will continue strengthening our development and coaching system to produce more champions for Sarawak and the nation as a whole,” he said.
SBA honorary secretary Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad said the latest success reflects the progress of Sarawak’s junior development programme.
“Our young players are showing that with proper planning, good coaching, and regular exposure, Sarawak can continue to produce athletes who can succeed at the national level.
“This is only the beginning, and we remain committed to building a stronger future,” he told Sarawak Tribune last night (Apr 27).
SBA remains committed to nurturing more young talents and building a stronger future for badminton in Sarawak and Malaysia.
