Giovanna Koay Yi Shyuan from SMJK Perempuan China Pulau Pinang claimed both titles in the Girls’ Singles, and Doubles with Lee Joinne from SMJK Jit Sin in the recently concluded Qualifying Round 2 of the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) 2023 in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.
“It is difficult to concentrate on two categories as I really need to focus on my stamina and recovery for each game. But luckily for me, I have a good partner in the doubles (Lee Joinne from SMJK Jit Sin), who covers me a lot so I don’t miss many shots,” quipped the U-15 Girls Singles and Doubles champion.
Another shuttler who bagged two titles was Chong Lee Qian from SMJK Sin Min. First, he defeated Darwin Yeong Jun Bin from SMK St. George Taiping Perak for the U-13 Boys Singles and later, partnered Tan Kean Loong from Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid to win the U-13 Boys Doubles.
The next AJBC Qualifying Round 3 will be held from 28-30 July in Ipoh, Perak.
The Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) is back this year with additional Qualifying Rounds in Sabah, Sarawak and Pahang, taking the overall number of locations to 10 this year and is expected to attract more than 2,500 young badminton talents, 500 more than last year.
Supported by the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM), the tournament will take place nationwide beginning this month. There will be a three-day qualifying round organised nationwide across 10 locations from July to November, with a four-day Grand Finals scheduled from 16-19 November at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur.
AJBC 2023 Grand Finals singles and doubles winners will pocket RM1,000 and RM1,200, respectively. Winners at all ten Qualifying Rounds will take home RM500 with the doubles champion earning RM600.
Results:
Under 13 (13-year-olds and below)
Boys’ Singles: Chong Lee Qian, SMJK Sin Min
Boys’ Doubles: Chong Lee Qian, SMJK Sin Min and Tan Kean Loong, Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid
Girls’ Singles:  Ho Wen Jie, SMK Seafield
Girls’ Doubles: Melody Heng Yen Xe, SMK Jit Sin and Ooi Chu Han, Jit Sin SKK
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Under-15 (14 to 15-year-olds)
Boys’ Singles: Tiew Yi Cheng, SMK Methodist Telok Datok
Boys’ Doubles: Ang Kay Yen, SMJK Jit Sin and Louis Lee Qi Jun, SMK Berapit
Girls’ Singles: Giovanna Koay Yi Shyuan, SMJK Perempuan China Pulau Pinang
Girls’ Doubles: Giovanna Koay Yi Shyuan, SMJK Perempuan China Pulau Pinang and Lee Joinne, SMJK Jit Sin
AJBC 2023’s qualifying round details are as follows:
| Qualifying Round | Date | 1.   Venue | Registration Period |
| 2.   1 | 7 – 9 July 2023 | Tops Arena Empire,
Kuala Lumpur |
16 – 30 June 2023 |
| 3.   2 | 14 – 16 July 2023 | Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang |
16 June – 7 July 2023 |
| 4.   3 | 28 – 30 July 2023 | Dewan YMCA,
Ipoh, Perak |
30 June – 21 July 2023 |
| 5.   4 | 4 – 6 August 2023 | UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan,
Sarawak |
14 – 28 July 2023 |
| 6.   5 | 11 – 13 August 2023 | Arena Badminton Juara,
Putatan, Sabah |
21 July – 4 August 2023 |
| 7.   6 | 8 – 10 September 2023 | Dewan KBA,
Alor Setar, Kedah |
18 August –
1 September 2023 |
| 8.   7 | 29 September –
1 October 2023 |
NS Sports,
Iskandar Puteri, Johor |
8 – 22 September 2023 |
| 9.   8 | 6 – 8 October 2023 | Stadium Negeri,
Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu |
15 – 29 September 2023 |
| 10. 9 | 20 – 22 October 2023 | Synergy Sports Centre,
Kuantan, Pahang |
29 September –
13 October 2023 |
| 11. 10 | 3 – 5 November 2023 | NZ Badminton Arena,
Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan |
13 – 27 October 2023 |
More information regarding the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship, visit www.allianz.com.my/ajbc
