KUCHING: Injuries may have denied them a fair fight in the SBA Junior Badminton Tournament final, but Sarawak’s Wafa Shahmina Rahman and Wendy Feebie Ricky are hopeful of a stronger showing when they reunite for the MSSM Badminton Championship in Perak.
The pair, who had to settle for runners-up after conceding the Under-16 girls’ doubles final on Sept 7 at Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) Hall, will next represent Sarawak at the national-level championship from Sept 12 to 18.
Wafa will continue her partnership with Wendy. Their recent campaign at the SBA Junior Tournament ended in disappointment when Wafa was forced to withdraw after sustaining a leg injury midway through the final.
“I felt terrible because it was like losing without finishing the match,” Wafa said, recalling how the injury struck at a crucial moment when the score stood at 14–13.
The young shuttler admitted the emotional toll was heavy, as she and Wendy had fought hard to reach the final only to see their hopes dashed.
“We didn’t get to continue. We couldn’t force it,” she said.
Despite both players struggling with injuries, the duo, once Sarawak’s top pair — told Sarawak Tribune courtside recently that they are determined to test themselves again at the MSSM Championship, though much will depend on their recovery and their coach’s assessment.
“We are a bit nervous because both of us are carrying injuries, but we’ll see how things go. It depends on the coach,” Wafa explained.
For now, the pair are focused on regaining fitness and sharpening their game in training before heading to Perak.
With the MSSM Championship bringing together the country’s top school shuttlers, the competition will be tough, but Wafa and Wendy are hopeful of turning their recent setback into motivation for a stronger outing.
