Badminton: Double joy for Jia Min

Watch this name - Yeo Jia Min.

The Singapore Sports School student may be just 16, but she showed her immense potential by winning two titles at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Kudus, Indonesia, yesterday.

The national shuttler lived up to her top-seed billing when she defeated unseeded Indonesian Sri Fatmawate 21-15, 21-13 in the Under-17 girls' singles final.

Then, just over an hour later, she partnered compatriot Crystal Wong Jia Ying to beat Japan's Natsu Saito and Rumi Yoshida 21-18, 21-18 to clinch the U-17 girls' doubles title.

Jia Min, who in 2013 became the first Singaporean to win the girls' U-15 title at the same tournament, is believed to be the first Singaporean to win the U-17 title as well.

Last year, she finished joint-third in the U-17 category.

"I feel happy and relieved that I've managed to secure the U-17 singles and doubles titles," said Jia Min.

"I try to better my game after every match that I play and I thank God for giving me the strength to pull through.

PRESSURE

"There was some pressure to live up to the top seeding, but I just tried to perform my best every match and left the result in God's hands.

"My next competition will be the World Junior Championships (in Lima, Peru, next month) and I hope to be able to go far as well.

Said national singles coach Kelvin Ho: "The Singapore Badminton Association is very happy with Jia Min winning the Asian U-17 title.

"This tournament is a stepping stone for her in terms of confidence... But there is still a huge step ahead for her."

The doubles triumph was equally sweet for Jia Min and Crystal (above, right), who improved on their joint-third finish in the U-15 category in 2013.

Said Crystal: "I feel elated and satisfied with my performance.

"Even though we did not partner just before the competition, we used offensive and aggressive tactics against every opponent.

"I will continue to work harder and hope to achieve more results in the future."

This article was first published on October 12, 2015.
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