#Nydhi Badminton Store

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In Focus: Malaysian Badminton Star Lee Zii Jia Rises Again

Badminton is a game of grit, dedication, and finesse, even in the face of adversity. And one player who truly embodies the essence of badminton is Malaysian shuttler, Lee Zii Jia. Even though he has had a challenging year, he believes in the champions-never-quit approach. Let’s understand how this child prodigy is rediscovering his game and becoming a formidable player.

Career Profile:

1. Men’s Singles World Rank: 11 2. Men’s Singles World Tour Rank: 13 3. Career Best Ranking: 2 (on 25th October 2022) 4. 2022 Men’s Singles Asian Champion 5. 2019 Men’s Singles SEA Games Champion 6. Part of the Team that won the Bronze Medal at the 2023 Sudirman Cup

Personal Information:

1. Birth Date: 29th March 1998 (Age 25 as of 19th October 2023) 2. Country: Malaysia 3. Height: 1.86m (6 ft. 1 inches) 4. Handedness: Right 5. Independent Coach: Wong Tat Meng Liew 6. Assistant Coach: Darren Liew

A Quick Glance at the Wins of the Malaysian Star Shuttler

Lee Zii Jia held the World No. 2 rankings in 2022. However, after his career-best performance, his form suffered in 2023. It led to his rank slipping away. However, he is dedicated to his craft and working on his skills.

1. Victor Denmark Open 2023 (Odense Denmark): In the recently concluded Denmark Open on 22nd October 2023, Lee secured the silver and won the second position.

2. Clash of Clans Artic Open 2023 - Powered by Yonex (Vantaa, Finland): On 15th October 2023, Lee won the first position against NG Tze Yong in two straight sets.

3. 19th Edition Asian Games (Hangzhou, China): Lee Zii Jia lost in the quarter-final against Indian shuttler HS Prannoy in a well-fought match. The match lasted for 78 minutes.

4. Sathio Group Australian Open 2023 (Sydney, Australia): Lee Zii Jia was on a roll in the Australian Open but lost the semi-final to Chinese badminton player Weng Hong Yan. He secured the third position in the tournament.

5. Yonex Swiss Open 2023 (Basel, Switzerland): Lee won three matches in the tournament and reached the semi-final. He was third on the podium after losing the semi-final to Japanese player Koki Watanabe.

6. Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships 2023 (Birmingham, England): He secured the third position in the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 event after losing the semi-final to Chinese ​​Y.Q. Shi.

A Worthy Successor to Malaysian Legend Lee Chong Wei

Badminton fans consider Lee Zii Jia as the next Lee Chong Wei. He has all the potential, talent, and skill to become the next badminton champion. He has a mantra, “Dare to Dream”. He says, “What I am trying to show them (the youth) is, I hope that they can dare to dream (of) whatever they want to become, and then decide to become (it) one day.”

Born in Alor Setar, Lee Zii Jia’s parents were former international basketball players. His parents introduced him to badminton at the young age of six. Considering his potential and performance in under-12 competitions, the Bukit Jalil Sports School quickly selected him.

Lee Zii Jia began his career with the Junior Championship in the 2015 Perak and Selangor Badminton Open tournament. His achievement secured him a seat at the big table. In the following year, he won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships. In 2017, Lee won his first senior title at the Polish International Tournament.

2018 was a memorable year for the Malaysian player because he won his first BWF World Tour title against Riichi Takeshita. His victory brought happiness across Malaysia because Lee became the only player other than Lee Chong Wei to win a BWF title since 2013. Lee Zii Jia also reached the finals of the Korean Masters in the same year.

In August 2019, Lee reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Open. He secured the world No. 11 in the BWF World rankings and ended the year on a high with a gold medal in the men’s singles tournament at the SEA Games. He also helped the national men's team win the silver medal at the SEA Games.

Lee Zii Jia was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Malaysian Masters. Under his captaincy, the team won a silver medal at the Asian Team Championships. Owing to his incredible performance at the All England Open in 2020, he entered the coveted list of the top 10 badminton players.

Lee won his first-ever Super 1000 tournament at the 2021 All England Open Championship by defeating world no. 1 player and defending champion Viktor Axelsen.

When Lee decided to quit the national badminton team in January 2022, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) banned him for two years. However, the ban was lifted quickly in the same month. In May 2022, Lee won the Badminton Asia Championships and BWF World Tour Super 500 title at the Thailand Open. He also reached the final of the Denmark Open against Chinese shuttler Shi Yuqi.

In 2023, Lee was part of the Malaysian team that won the bronze medal at the Sudirman Cup. He had decided to take a break from badminton in 2023 and only returned to competing in July with the 2023 Korea Open. He ended his drought by winning the 2023 Arctic Open against another Malaysian player Ng Tze Yong.

A Change in Playing Style: Lee Zii Jia’s Latest Strategy

Currently, Lee Zii Jia is in a transformation phase where he is changing his strategy from being an aggressive to a control player. Smashing used to be his biggest strength, but he needed a transition because other players were figuring out his game effortlessly.

His athleticism is top-notch, and his aggression is second to none. Each of his badminton fans hopes his transition is successful and he soon becomes the international player he deserves to be.

Lee’s Favorite Badminton Racket and Other Equipment

Lee has always favored an attacking racket and still prefers the Victor Thruster Ryuga (flame red) badminton racket. He was also associated with Thruster Ryuga II in the past.

Recently, fans noticed that he used a different racket at the BWF Arctic Open 2023 in Vantaa, Finland. Many think it is a new racket in accordance with his changing playing style. However, it might be a yet-to-be-released version of Ryuga itself.

Did you know around two years ago (around the time of the Tokyo Olympics), he wielded the Astrox 100 ZZ Kurenai and then the Astrox 99 Pro Cherry Sunburst?

Currently, Victor has exclusively signed him. He uses the Victor A970 Ace badminton shoes, the BR5610LJZ racket bag, and the BR5010LZJ backpack.

The Phoenix Will Rise

Lee Zii Jia had a devastating year, but ever since his return from the hiatus, he seems to be enjoying the game and winning titles. His recent achievements are a testament to his never-say-die spirit and his motto of “Dare to Dream.”

Lee’s journey to reaching the world no. 2 rankings, the subsequent losses, and the comeback make him a true phoenix. Truly, his story is of grit, dedication, and commitment against all odds.

[badmintonstorefan]

In Focus: South Korean Badminton Star An Se-young

In the dynamic world of badminton, emerging talents bring fresh energy and excitement to the sport. One such emerging star from the Republic of Korea is An Se-Young. She is a South Korean badminton sensation whose remarkable achievements and unique playing style have garnered attention from across the globe. With a focused approach to excelling at her craft and improving her skills, An Se-Young is carving her path to greatness.

Career Profile:

1. Women’s Singles World Rank: 1 2. Women’s Singles World Tour Rank: 1 3. Recipient of the 2019’s Most Promising Player of the Year. 4. Bronze medal at the 2022 Tokyo World Championships. 5. Secured Seven BWF titles in 2023.

Personal Information:

1. Birth Date: 5th February 2002 2. Country: South Korea 3. Height: 1.70m (5 ft. 7 inches) 4. Handedness: Right

A Quick Glance at the Recent Wins of World No. 1 Women’s Singles Player

An Se-young had an eventful 2023! She has won seven titles and several other championships to make her the number 1 player in the game today!

1. Daihatsu Japan Open 2023 (Tokyo, Japan): On the 30th of July 2023, Se-young won the final match against Chinese shuttler He Bingjiao in two straight sets.

2. Korea Open 2023 ( Seoul, Korea): An Se-young won the finale of the Korea Open in an exciting match against Taiwanese star Tai Tzu Ying. She won the game in two straight sets: 21-9 and 21-15.

3. Kapal Api Group Indonesia Open 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia): On 17th June 2023, An Se-young lost the semifinal to Chinese player Chen Yu Fei but secured third position in the tournament.

4. KFF Singapore Open 2023 (Singapore, Singapore): As a part of the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750, Se-young won the tournament by competing against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.

5. Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand Open (Bangkok, Thailand): This HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament was played from 30 May - 4 June 2023. An Se-young emerged as the winner by defeating Chinese player He Bingjiao in straight sets of 21-10 and 21-19.

6. Total Energies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2023 (Suzhou, China): Held in China from 14 May- 21 May 2023, An Se-young was a part of the mixed team that won a silver medal.

7. Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships 2023 (Birmingham, England): Se-young defeated her opponent Chen Yu Fei in a grueling match that lasted more than an hour to lift the trophy on 19th March 2023.

8. Yonex German Open 2023 (Mulheim, Germany): On 12th March 2023, she secured the second position in the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 300 German Open after losing the final to Akane Yamaguchi.

9. Daihatsu Indonesia Master 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia): In the Indonesia Masters, the badminton champ won the first position in a nail-biting match against Spain’s Carolina Marin.

10. Yonex Sunrise India Open 2023 (New Delhi, India): In the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament held from 17-22 January 2023, An Se-young lifted the gold medal after a match that lasted 62 minutes.

11. Petronas Malaysia Open 2023 (Kualampur, Malaysia): She won the silver medal in the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournament in a close fight with Akane Yamaguchi.

A Quick and Deserving Entry to the Hall of Fame!

At the tender age of nine, An Se-young’s coach told her, "You can’t be world number one by studying, but in sport, I can make you world number one." His words left an indelible mark on her memory and that’s how she chose the path of a professional badminton player.

In 2017, An Se-young was part of the mixed team that won the Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta. In the same year, when Se-young was only 15 years old, she was selected to represent the national team of the Republic of Korea. At that time, she was only a junior high student.

In the coming years, she displayed her astute sense of badminton by winning her first BWF World Tour title at the Super 300 New Zealand Open by beating Olympic gold medalist Li Xuerui of China. Since the implementation of the BWF World Tour in 2018, she has won several titles, making her the rising star of South Korean badminton.

Her breakthrough happened in the year of 2019 when she won the title at the New Zealand Open, Canada Open, Akita Masters, French Open, and Korean Masters. She won the silver at the Hyderabad Open in the same year.

Appreciating her achievements, the BWF awarded her the Most Promising Player of the Year 2019. In 2020, Forbes named her one of Forbes' Asia 30 under 30 in the entertainment and sports category.

Fast and Young: What’s the Playing Style of An Se-young?

Se-young's playing style is characterized by her aggressive play and agility. She may have a small frame, but she possesses the power to hit devastating smashes and complement them with quick footwork to confuse her opponents.

She stands out for her remarkable speed and precise shots, keeping her adversaries guessing. When she is on the court, you will notice her rivals on their toes because she maintains constant pressure on them.

Her ability to adapt to various match situations showcases her strategic approach to the game. Her excellent court coverage and versatile shot selection demonstrate maturity at a very young age.

An Se-Young’s Favorite Badminton Racket and Other Equipment

To match her aggressive and agile play, An Se-young requires a racket that can handle strong smashes and deliver lightning speed. There is only one racket that can remain true to her expectations and it is Astrox 77 Pro.

An Se-young prefers the racket because it delivers power without compromising speed. Several other players choose the Astrox 77 Pro because of its playability. It is less demanding and can be used by advanced and intermediate players.

It has the NAMD technology for ensuring explosive shots every time the shuttle comes in contact with the racket. It also offers medium flex and a super slim shaft for faster snapback and enhanced racket handling. If you want an affordable and beginner-friendly version of the Astrox 77 Pro, you can opt for Astrox 77 Play.

Her favorite string is the Yonex BG 80 for quick repulsion. She uses the latest Yonex Power Cushion Aerus Z Women's shoes and Pro Tournament Bag.

The Perfect Combination of Aggression and Passion

An Se-Young's journey in the world of badminton is one marked by her incredible passion and calculated aggression. Her recent achievements are a testament to her dedication, determination, and rigorous training routine.

As she continues to make her mark on the international badminton stage, An Se-Young's story inspires young athletes worldwide, reminding them that they, too, can leave a lasting legacy in their choice of sports.

[badmintonstorefan]

Top 5 Yonex Badminton Rackets of 2023 in India

Badminton is a popular sport in India. The majority of Indians have played the game or watched it at least once in their life. If you are a badminton enthusiast, you know that you need the right equipment to perform at your best.

And Yonex is a brand that is synonymous with the best-in-class badminton equipment, mainly their range of badminton rackets is phenomenal. Choosing from the many options available can be difficult if you are in the market for a new racket. That's why we have compiled a list of the top 5 Yonex badminton rackets of 2023.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, we have got you covered with our picks for the best Yonex badminton rackets of the year. So let's dive in and closely examine what makes these rackets stand out.

1. Yonex Astrox 99 Pro

The Yonex ASTROX 99 Pro badminton racket is a top choice for advanced and professional players who value power and precision on the court.

With a stiff flex and head-heavy balance, this racket is designed to generate powerful smashes and provide excellent control during matches. The NAMD technology and extra slim shaft make it ideal for players who want to dominate their opponents with a single, devastating smash. If you are considering this racket, remember that it is recommended to string it between 20-28 lbs to get the most out of its performance.

2. Yonex Astrox 88D Pro

The Yonex Astrox 88D Pro badminton racket is perfect for professional and advanced players seeking a powerful and precise racket.

It has a stiff flex and a head-heavy balance, this racket offers exceptional control and explosive power on every shot. The 4U weight (Avg. 83g) and G5 grip provide a comfortable and secure hold, while the recommended stringing advice of 4U: 20-28 lbs offers additional customization options.

3. Yonex Arcsaber 11 Pro

The Yonex Arcsaber 11 Pro badminton racket is an advanced-level racket that offers an even-balanced feel and a stiff flex. This racket is designed for players seeking a combination of control and maneuverability.

With a weight of 4U and a G5 grip, the racket offers excellent handling, allowing for quick reactions and precise shots. The Arcsaber 11 Pro is made with high-quality materials such as H.M. Graphite, Pocketing Booster, Super HMG, and Ultra PE Fiber, which work together to create a highly responsive and stable frame. The racket also features Yonex's patented Isometric technology, which expands the racket's sweet spot and allows for more consistent shots.

4. Yonex Astrox 88S Pro

The Yonex Astrox 88S Pro badminton racket is designed for advanced players seeking a powerful and precise racket on the court. With a stiff flex and head-heavy balance, this racket provides explosive power and maximum control over shots.

The frame is made with advanced H.M. Graphite / VOLUME CUT RESIN / Tungsten, thus resulting in a highly responsive and stable racket. The Energy Boost Cap Plus maximizes shaft flexibility and transfers energy from the player's grip to the racket head, resulting in more power on impact.

5. Yonex Duora Z Strike

The unique Duora system features two types of racquet faces, allowing players to switch between forehand and backhand easily. The Yonex Duora Z Strike badminton racket is designed with advanced and professional players in mind, featuring an extra stiff flex and even balance for exceptional power and control on the court.

Weighing 3U with an average weight of 88g and a G4 grip, this racket is made for players who seek maximum precision and control over their shots. The frame is made with Yonex's advanced materials, including H.M. Graphite and Nanometric DR, and Hyper MG, which provide high stability and repulsion power.

This innovative technology enables players to deliver powerful and accurate shots from any position on the court. The black and white color gives the racket a sleek and professional appearance, making it an excellent choice for players looking to take their game to the next level.

Conclusion

By familiarizing yourself with the best Yonex badminton racket and considering your individual playing style, you can confidently choose the perfect racket to elevate your game. With the right racket in hand, you'll be able to unleash your full potential and perform at your best.

So, take the time to research and understand your options, and invest in an original badminton racket that will help you reach new heights on the court.