KUALA LUMPUR: BA of Malaysia (BAM) must ensure newly crowned world junior champions Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim do not fade away before fulfilling their potential at senior level.
Former BAM high performance director Datuk James Selvaraj said their historic girls' doubles triumph should be followed by a structured development programme, with senior training exposure and regular competitive opportunities.
Zi Yu-Genevie became Malaysia's first girls' doubles world junior champions after beating Japan's Nijika Kamata-Shizuku Kashio 15–7, 9–15, 15–12 in 41 minutes at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.
"BAM must pay more attention to these two girls. They've already proven themselves in the junior tournament. You mustn't let them fade away," said James.
"Promote them from the junior to the senior squad. Let them train with the senior players, see how they train and learn from what they are doing."
James advocated a gradual introduction to stronger senior tournaments, including Super 100 and Super 300 events, to help the pair gain experience and confidence.
"You have to keep following them. You cannot let them go now. This is the time to nurture them and send them to tournaments so they can experience what it is like to play at senior level," he said.
Zi Yu has shown her potential in the senior circuit, reaching the final of the Baoji Masters with Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and beating several top-10 pairs on the World Tour.
Malaysia's record shows that junior success can lead to contrasting senior careers.
Tan Boon Heong, who won the 2004 world junior title with Hoon Thien How, went on to capture the 2006 Asian Games gold and 2007 All England crown alongside Koo Kien Keat.
However, Chooi Kah Ming, the 2009 world junior champion with Ow Yao Han, struggled to establish himself among the senior elite, with injuries and frequent partnership changes hampering his progress.
The career of 2011 boys' singles champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli took a different turn when he received a 20-year ban in 2018 for match-fixing offences.
James also stressed that young champions must remain willing to learn, warning generally that complacency could derail their development.
"In order to become a better player, you have to learn from the senior players. With experience, you will understand the game better," he said.
For Zi Yu, Saturday's victory ended a run of two successive silvers, earned with Dania Sofea Zaidi in 2024 and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan last year.
James hopes BAM will now help turn that junior consistency into sustained senior progress.
"We have got a new pair coming through already. Nurture them. Take care of them. Don't let them go."
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd