World Juniors: Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim guarantee Malaysia a girls' doubles medal in Cairo as top seeds exit

Second seeds Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim have guaranteed Malaysia a medal at the BWF World Junior Championships in Cairo after a quick quarter-final win on Thursday, 15 October. They beat Hong Kong's Au-Yeung Wing Chi-Chu Wing Chi 15-7, 15-7 in 22 minutes, The Star reported, and were the only Malaysian entry left in the individual event at the end of the day.

A one-sided quarter-final

Zi Yu and Genevie were in control from the start at Cairo International Stadium and never let the Hong Kong pair settle. The match follows the format used at the World Juniors, with games played to 15 points.

There is no bronze-medal play-off at the World Junior Championships, so both losing semi-finalists receive bronze. Reaching the last four means the Malaysians cannot finish lower than third.

Their semi-final opponents are China's Shi Sichen-Xiang Yujin. The match was scheduled for Friday, 16 October.

Earlier rounds in Cairo

The pair's run began with a 15-3, 15-3 win over Hungary's Eliza Liang-Jana Weissenbach in 15 minutes, Indonesian site Liga Olahraga reported. Zi Yu is 16.

The opening rounds also produced some bright Malaysian results elsewhere. In mixed doubles on Wednesday, Yusuf Iqbal-Leong Hwee Ling upset Czech fourth seeds Filip Titěra-Amélie Maixnerová 15-10, 15-11 in 17 minutes. Eleventh seeds Khairul Azlan Khashah-Nur Aina Maisarah beat Australia's Ben Rambaud-Yanxi Liu 15-4, 15-7. In girls' doubles, 13th seeds Rachel Tan-Teh Xin Ying won an all-Malaysian match against Leong Hwee Ling-Teoh Min Yi 15-10, 15-10. None of those pairs made it as far as Zi Yu-Genevie.

Top Malaysian seeds fall

Thursday was difficult for Malaysia's other leading pairs. Zi Yu's attempt to win two events ended when she and Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal, the top seeds in mixed doubles, lost to South Korea's Jeong Seong-been-Kim Min-chae 15-11, 15-17, 13-15 in the third round.

Redzuan also went out of the boys' doubles. He and Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim, the second seeds, lost their quarter-final 15-7, 11-15, 9-15 to Japan's Oku Mahiro-Masato Yamashiro.

That left Zi Yu-Genevie to carry Malaysia's hopes into the final weekend.

Follow-up to the team silver

The individual event follows the mixed team competition, where Malaysia beat Indonesia to reach their first Suhandinata Cup final since 2017 and then lost 2-1 to China to take silver. With Zi Yu-Genevie now in the semi-finals, Malaysia's juniors are guaranteed to leave Cairo with medals from both the team and the individual events.

Key takeaways

• Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim beat Hong Kong's Au-Yeung Wing Chi-Chu Wing Chi 15-7, 15-7 in 22 minutes to reach the semi-finals.
• Reaching the semi-finals guarantees them at least a bronze medal, as there is no third-place play-off.
• Their semi-final opponents are China's Shi Sichen-Xiang Yujin, scheduled for 16 October.
• Top mixed seeds Ahmad Redzuan-Low Zi Yu and second boys' doubles seeds Isyraf Hafizin-Ahmad Redzuan both lost on Thursday.
• Malaysia have already won mixed team silver in Cairo.

FAQ

Have Malaysia won a medal at the 2026 World Junior individual championships? Yes. Low Zi Yu-Genevie Lim are guaranteed at least bronze after reaching the girls' doubles semi-finals.

Who do Low Zi Yu and Genevie Lim play in the semi-finals? China's Shi Sichen-Xiang Yujin. The match was scheduled for Friday, 16 October, in Cairo.

Which Malaysian seeds lost at the World Juniors on 15 October? Top mixed seeds Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal-Low Zi Yu lost in the third round, and second boys' doubles seeds Isyraf Hafizin Ibrahim-Ahmad Redzuan lost in the quarter-finals.

Sources: The Star, Berita Harian, Liga Olahraga, Bernama