Noraqilah’s coach says character, not just talent, will decide if the young shuttler can reach world-class level.
YOUNG women’s doubles shuttler Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan has immense talent, but her character will ultimately determine whether she can develop into a world-class player, said national mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto.
Nova said young players often attract attention and praise after producing impressive performances, but warned that becoming complacent too early could hinder their long-term development.
“I always remind them to build strong character and never to be easily contented. Their performance on court is the most important thing. If we play up their achievement too son, it may not be good for their development,” he said.
He said that the 19-year-old Noraqilah possesses exceptional natural talent, but stressed that success on the international stage requires far more than technical ability alone.
According to him, young shuttlers must remain disciplined in training, develop mental resilience and cultivate strong character if they hope to compete consistently at the highest level.
In a separate development, Nova said the new combination of Chen Tang Jie-Clarissa San will be given four tournaments to prove themselves before any decision is made on reshuffling partnerships.
“We will see how they handle pressure during matches, execute their game plans consistently and complement each other by covering their partner’s weaknesses,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nova said the national mixed doubles squad is currently focused on developing two new partnerships – Tang Jie-Clarissa and Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin – who are being targeted to become key contenders in the race for Olympic qualification.
He also stressed that any player with Olympic ambitions should focus on only one event to ensure greater consistency in performance.
