KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s singles Siti Zulaikha Azmi and men’s doubles scratch pair Aaron Tai-Tan Zhi Yang were defeated in their respective finals at the Indonesia International Challenge II in Yogyakarta on Sunday.
World No. 95 Zulaikha lost 21-18, 21-16 to South Korea‘s world No. 93 Kim Min Jee in a 50-minute battle.
The two former junior rivals were playing in their first final on the senior stage, but the Korean secured her maiden breakthrough.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said he was happy with Zulaikha’s performance despite the defeat.
“Our women’s singles shuttlers are embracing a new direction, and Zulaikha is among the shuttlers making progress.
“For 2026, we will make an individual tournament plan which will be tailored to each player’s level and development steps to help them continue their growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aaron-Zhi Yang lost 21-15, 21-17 to Indonesia’s world No. 146 Ali Faathir Rayhan-Devin Wahyudi in the men’s doubles final. Aaron-Zhi Yang had also lost to the same pair in the second round of the Indonesian International Challenge I at the same venue last week.
Aaron will resume his partnership with Kang Khai Xing, who has recovered from a minor injury, and they will play at the Syed Modi India International, which begins on Tuesday.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
