Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association launches 'Juara Baru' to develop women's singles stars

The Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) is launching a new program called 'Juara Baru' (New Champions) with the primary goal of cultivating more national-level women's singles players. This initiative marks a strategic progression from their previous successful 'Jejak Juara' (Trace the Champion) program, which has been running since 2023 and has unearthed considerable young talent. KLBA President Datuk Seri Dr. Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos highlighted that while Kuala Lumpur has strong women's doubles pairs like Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, there is a noticeable deficiency in top-tier women's singles players. "We want Kuala Lumpur to play a role in filling that gap," he stated. The 'Juara Baru' program will focus on developing players in this specific discipline, building on the confidence gained from the 'Jejak Juara' program's achievements. To support this development, KLBA is planning to establish a dedicated training center for young female players. Discussions are underway with the Federal Territory Education Department of Kuala Lumpur (JPWPKL) regarding the potential use of a girls' school with dormitory facilities. Furthermore, KLBA intends to collaborate with the Goh Liu Ying Badminton Academy, leveraging the expertise of the former Olympic silver medalist to nurture quality players. The 'Jejak Juara' program has already seen significant success, attracting nearly 3,000 young players and contributing to Kuala Lumpur's strong performance in national championships like the MSSM and development tournaments organized by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). Program Director Datuk Vincent Chin noted that the under-9 and under-11 categories in the latest edition were particularly exciting, with several surprise players reaching the finals, indicating a promising pool of talent for the 'Juara Baru' program.

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We want Kuala Lumpur to play a role in filling that gap.