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.
On today's final day at the 2026 world junior badminton championships in Cairo, Malaysia's Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Malaysian champion in the girls doubles event since its inception in 1992. The pair, consisting of Low and her teammate Lim, secured their maiden title after a hard-fought victory against Japan's Nijika Kamata-Shizuku Kashio.
The match concluded with an impressive score of 15-7 in the first set, 9-15 in the second, and 15-12 in the third, marking a significant achievement for Malaysian badminton. Following her initial win over China's Shi Si Chen-Xiang Yu Jin in straight games, Low Zi Yu-Genevie reached the final in just 32 minutes, showcasing her remarkable talent and determination.
This triumph not only ends Malaysia's 34-year wait for a girls doubles title but also signifies a breakthrough for the nation in an event historically dominated by Chinese participants.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
