KUCHING: Sarawak badminton celebrated another milestone as Genevie Lim became the latest home-grown talent to shine internationally after winning a bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2026.
The achievement also marked a significant step forward in Genevie’s development, with the young shuttler receiving an offer from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last week to join the national training programme.
Malaysia’s team manager, Datuk Dr Wan Khalik, said the opportunity was a recognition of Genevie’s potential and progress after her impressive campaign at the Asian junior tournament.
“Genevie and Zi Yu performed well against some of the best junior pairs in Asia. Their achievement is encouraging and shows that they have the potential to progress further with the right training, exposure and support,” he said.
Genevie partnered Low Zi Yu in the Women’s Doubles event, with the pair securing a bronze medal despite being newly formed for the championships.
Wan Khalik, who is also Sarawak Badminton Association’s (SBA) Secretary, said Genevie’s success was a proud moment for Sarawak badminton, as she became another player from the state to move closer towards the national stage.
“The offer is a recognition of Genevie’s potential and development. I hope she will take full advantage of this opportunity, continue to work hard and establish herself within the national setup.
“As Team Manager and a representative of the Sarawak Badminton Association, I am proud to see a Sarawak player progressing to the national level and winning a medal for Malaysia at the Asian Junior Championships,” he told Sarawak Tribune recently.
Meanwhile, Malaysia ended a 19-year wait for the Mixed Doubles title at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships after Ahmad Redzuan and Low Zi Yu emerged champions.
Wan Khalik described the achievement as an important milestone for Malaysian junior badminton, saying the players showed tremendous fighting spirit and composure throughout the tournament.
“Winning the Mixed Doubles gold after 19 years is a special achievement for Malaysia. The players showed tremendous fighting spirit and composure throughout the tournament, and this result gives us confidence in the potential of our junior players,” he said.
Malaysia also had two singles players reaching the quarter-finals, reflecting the overall competitiveness and progress of the junior squad.
Wan Khalik credited the coaches, sports science personnel and support teams for their commitment throughout the championships, stressing the need to continue strengthening the development pathway for young players as they prepare for senior international badminton.
