Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim win Malaysia's first world junior women's doubles gold
The second seeds defeated Japan's Nijika Kamata and Shizuku Kashio in three games, ending Zi Yu's run of two consecutive runner-up finishes.
Malaysia's Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim claimed the World Junior Championships girls' doubles title in Cairo, beating Japan's Nijika Kamata and Shizuku Kashio 15-7, 9-15, 15-12. The final lasted 41 minutes at Cairo International Stadium.
Seeded second, the Malaysians became their country's first women's doubles champions at the tournament, which began in 1992. They reached the final by defeating China's Shi Si Chen and Xiang Yu Jin 15-9, 15-11.
Zi Yu, 16, said she feared another silver medal when the Japanese pair took the second game. She had lost two previous finals, partnering Dania Sofea Zaidi in 2024 and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan on the other occasion. She said greater patience and focus helped her and Genevie after they dropped a game.
Genevie also described feeling anxious during the decider, particularly as their opponents threatened to save match points. She said she did not want another silver following Malaysia's runner-up finish behind China in the mixed team competition.
Zi Yu had also lost in the individual mixed doubles competition. She said she put that disappointment aside to concentrate on women's doubles. Both players expressed pride in winning gold for Malaysia.
