By Asmahanim Amir

BANGI, 9 December 2016 – UKM’s Faculty of Education student Yap Rui Chen, won the Women’s Singles in the 41st YONEX Hungarian International Badminton Championships, Hungary, recently.

The second year student, who is ranked 561 in the world, defeated Denmark’s player, Sofie Holmboe Dahl, who is ranked 83, with match points: 14-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8.

In a recent interview, Yap said that she started playing badminton at the tender age of six as most of her family members are actively involved in badminton.

Her entry to the Hungarian tournament was based on an invitation of a local club, and is testimony to her increasing success in carving her name in the international badminton arena.

Realising Yap’s potential, UKM fully supported her decision to take one semester off, to compete in the international scene.

Faculty of Education Dean Prof. Dato’ Norazah, said the faculty is proud of her achievement and added that Yap is an example of a student who could excellently manage her academic and co-curricular activities.

Other lecturers who had personally taught her, also commended her achievement and said that Yap is a very disciplined, ambitious and responsible student, who made an effort to catch up despite missing classes to attend training and competitions.

A total of 196 players from 30 countries took part in the tournament, which was upgraded to an International Challenge status, as an initiative to increase the tournament’s world ranking points and also the prize money.

Officials from the International Badminton Federation reportedly gave the tournament a ringing endorsement of the world class facilities and organization that set a new benchmark in the 41 year history of the tournament.