Uber Cup Experience Fuels Letshanaa’s Malaysia Masters Campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- National women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa is drawing confidence from her encouraging performances at the recent Uber Cup as she gears up for the Malaysia Masters next week.

Letshanaa said the experience of competing against top players in the women’s team tournament had given her a timely boost ahead of the home meet.

“It was a very good outcome and also a good experience for me. I learned a lot from it.

“I hope to use that experience to move forward and carry the confidence into the Malaysia Masters,” she said when met after the national badminton team training today.

At the Uber Cup, Letshanaa played first singles and produced spirited performances against two of the world’s top players. She gave former world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan a tough fight before losing 19-21, 17-21 in a group match and then went down fighting 17-21, 18-21 against China’s world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi in the quarter-finals.

Letshanaa, 21, who is ranked 33rd in the world, will face world No. 41 Amalie Schulz of Denmark in the first round of the Malaysia Masters.

Commenting on her steady rise in the rankings, she said she did not set any specific timeline, choosing instead to focus on consistent improvement from match to match.

Letshanaa added that she is comfortable with her current position and is determined to raise her game further.

“I am okay with it. We are good with where we are right now, and our focus is on how to keep improving,” she said.

The Malaysia Masters, a Super 500 tournament, will be held at Unifi Arena from May 20 to 25, offering a total prize purse of USD475,000.

-- BERNAMA