Junior shuttlers gain international exposure in Japan
27 Nov 2025
KUCHING: The Sarawak junior girls’ team wrapped up their campaign at the All Japan Diamond Cup in Aomori, returning home with invaluable international exposure despite not progressing to the knockout rounds. The tournament, which featured Japan’s top junior shuttlers including BWF world junior gold medalist Aya Tamaki, provided the Sarawak players with a rare and meaningful benchmark of world-class performance levels.
The state contingent, led by Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) secretary Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad, embraced the tournament as a key developmental opportunity.
“Competing in Japan, one of the world’s most dominant badminton shuttlers to elite international standards,” Wan Khalik said. “Although results did not translate into podium finishes, the young athletes gained critical tactical insights, court experience and first-hand understanding of the pace, precision and discipline that define Japanese junior badminton.
“Their exposure to such high intensity competition is expected to significantly accelerate their growth and competitiveness,” he added Wan Khalik noted that the combination of high-level matches, international exposure and meaningful engagement with Japan’s badminton leadership will have a long-lasting impact on the young shuttlers. “Our juniors have now seen up close what world-class badminton looks like. This experience gives them clarity, motivation and belief as they continue their jour-ney,” he said.
The international outing was made possible through the strong support of Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd that is based in Bintulu. Reinforcing the company’s commitment to grassroots and junior development, its vice chairman Yuki Nakamura personally accompanied the team to Aomori.
The state delegation also made a courtesy visit to the Badminton Association of Japan (BAJ headquarters.
See the original news by Ting Tieng Hee, The Borneo Post more at…. PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions
