MIRI: Despite travel hurdles from Batu Niah and Bekenu, Miri’s junior badminton players are making their mark at the SBA Junior Tournament 2025.
Miri Badminton Association (MBA) secretary and one of the team’s coaches, Siew Ting, said the Miri contingent arrived in Kuching in stages, with some players arriving Thursday afternoon (Sept 4) due to flight delays.
“We were supposed to arrive at noon, but the flight was delayed. We have a few flights coming, not all in one,” she said.
The 23-player team includes the athletes and coaches, with five members making up the tournament delegation.
Siew highlighted the challenges the team faced regarding travel and accommodation.
“Flight tickets and hotel stays are a concern for us, especially for players coming from Batu Niah.
“From Batu Niah to Miri, and then from Miri to Kuching, the distance is significant,” she told Sarawak Tribune when met at the SBA Hall recently.
The tournament features both under-12 and under-16 divisions. Miri has six boys and two girls competing in the under-12 category, while the majority of the squad competes in the under-16 division.
Some of the younger players, especially those from Batu Niah, are participating in a state-level competition for the first time.
Despite being newcomers, several have advanced to the second and third rounds, revealing potential that had previously gone unnoticed.
“We are very happy to see them perform well. There’s a lot of promise, not just from Batu Niah but also from Bekenu,” said Siew.
Among the hopefuls are top-seeded girls Wafaa Shahminah and Wendy Feebie, strong contenders in both singles and doubles.
The tournament, which began yesterday (Sept 5), will continue until tomorrow at the Sarawak Badminton Association Hall, with players competing for state selection and ranking positions.
