Zi Yu-Genevie crowned junior world champs, ending Malaysia’s 34-year wait

 The national junior women's doubles pair captured their maiden world title by defeating a Japanese pair.

Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim became the first Malaysian champions in the girls’ doubles event since its introduction in 1992. (BAM Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

National junior women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim captured their maiden girls’ doubles title at the 2026 world junior badminton championships in Cairo, Egypt, today, ending Malaysia’s 34-year wait for the title.

In the final match at the Cairo International Stadium, the second-seeded pair defeated Japan’s Nijika Kamata-Shizuku Kashio 15-7, 9-15, 15-12 to make history for Malaysia in the event.

The triumph sees Zi Yu-Genevie crowned as the first-ever Malaysian champions in the girls’ doubles event since its introduction in 1992, which has long been dominated by Chinese representatives.

Zi Yu-Genevie advanced to the final after defeating China’s Shi Si Chen-Xiang Yu Jin in straight games of 15-9, 15-11 yesterday, taking only 32 minutes to overcome the 15th-seeded pair. - FMT