Allianz Junior Badminton Championship veteran Nur Khalishah qualifies for third successive Grand Finals

Kuala Lumpur, 14 October 2026

Five-time Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) participant Nur Khalishah Abdul Razak has qualified for a third successive AJBC Grand Finals outing after capturing the Girls’ Under-15 Singles crown at the AJBC 2026 Qualifying Round 9 in Alor Setar, Kedah recently.
Nur Khalishah, a Form Two student of SMK Sultanah Asma in Alor Setar, denied the formbook when she defeated See Jie Le from SMK Ayer Hitam, Kedah 15-10, 15-7 in an exciting final encounter. She also picked up a bronze medal in the Girls’ Under-15 Doubles with partner Venus Lim.
“I have learned a lot by playing in the AJBC Grand Finals over the past two years. I realised last year that I need more control over my emotions, and I believe I’m much better now,” said Nur Khalishah.
She added that her win in the Girls’ Under-14 Doubles at the Junior Elite Tour Finals earlier this year has given her confidence for the AJBC, particularly the Grand Finals. The 14-year-old is also set to attend the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s Talent Identification (TID) programme next month.
Nur Khalishah has been participating in the AJBC since its inaugural iteration in 2022, where she crashed out of the Kedah Qualifying Round Girls’ Under-13 Singles in the first round but came back stronger the next year to win third place in the same event.
In 2024, Nur Khalishah advanced to her first AJBC Grand Finals, where she played in the Girls’ Under-13 Singles group stage. She had to drop out of the Girls’ Under-13 Doubles as her partner was injured. Last year, she reached the quarterfinals of the Girls’ Under-13 Singles and placed second in the Girls’ Under-13 Doubles with partner Siti Nur Afiqah Mohd Syahmi.
The Qualifying Round 9 in Kedah was the first time this year where no player was able to complete the double of capturing two titles in one age category, due to the highly competitive players that participated in this tournament.
Among the other standouts in Alor Setar and those who will make the trip to Kuala Lumpur for the Grand Finals is Yeoh Han Son from Chung Ling Private School, Pulau Pinang. He beat home favourite, Carson Fong of SMJK Keat Hwa, Kedah 14-16, 15-8, 17-15 to take the Boys’ Under-15 Singles crown.
“I was under a lot of pressure in front of the home crowd but I played the game to my pace and looked for opportunities to score points,” Han Son said.
Carson however made up for the loss by winning the Boys’ Under-15 Doubles title with partner Ng Chia Tin of SMK Pengkalan Lebai Man, Kedah, turning the tables on Han Son and Yeoh Jun Ton from Chung Ling Private School, Pulau Pinang 15-6, 15-5 to emerge victorious in the final.
The fifth edition of the AJBC is organised by Allianz Malaysia Berhad and supported by BAM and the Sports, Co-curricular and Arts Division, Ministry of Education.
In just five years, the AJBC, which does not require any entrance fees from the players, is among the most popular and anticipated junior events in the country. This year’s AJBC features a total of 10 Qualifying Rounds followed by the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur.
The list of winners from the AJBC 2026 Qualifying Round 9 is as attached.