Former national shuttler Woon Khe Wei believes young pair Low Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan can match top duo Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.
FORMER national women’s doubles player Woon Khe Wei believes rising young pair Low Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan have the potential to eventually match top national pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, citing their fearless approach on court.
Khe Wei said the world No. 84 pair have shown plenty of courage and a distinct identity on court, without displaying any fear whenever they compete.
“I hope they can become Malaysia’s top second pair because their style is very special, especially the way they play fearlessly.
“They are not old-school or overly cautious. I really enjoy watching them because their style is somewhat similar to Pearly and Thinaah,” she told reporters after the launch of the Tiga Saga Cup 2026 here today.
Khe Wei is confident that if Zi Yu-Noraqilah continue to challenge their opponents boldly and win tournaments, they can eventually reach the same level as the country’s No. 1 pair.
“The most important thing is courage. If they continue to play fearlessly and win more tournaments, their level will improve and I think they can definitely match Pearly and Thinaah,” she said.
However, she reminded them that consistency and endurance in long rallies are key to success, as top-notch competitions demand a high level of mental and physical strength.
Khe Wei believes that Pearly and Thinaah have inspired Malaysia’s women’s doubles players by proving that they could match the world’s elite pairs.
On another matter, she agreed with Badminton Association of Malaysia Performance Committee chairman and badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s view on the importance of enforcing discipline to ensure players residing at the national badminton academy remain focused on the game.
She said such disciplinary controls are important to ensure training quality is not affected by external factors such as unhealthy lifestyles or insufficient sleep, which could ultimately have a negative impact on players’ performances.
