Shuttler Kisona Selvaduray is now the country's highest-ranked women's singles player, under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) stable.

The 23-year-old from Seremban will take the centre stage after BAM dropped Soniia Cheah, who is ranked World No 32 in world rankings, recently. Kisona is ranked 62 in the same list.

The New Straits Times (NST) spoke to the shuttler, who sounded confident of taking on the best, following her experience playing in two top-tier events in Bangkok last month.

She fell to India's Saina Nehwal in the first round of the Yonex Thailand Open, but did better in the Toyota Thailand Open, where she made it to the second round, before ultimately going down to reigning world champion P.V Sindhu, from India.

"I was lucky to qualify for the two Thailand Opens. I was ready and did my best.

"As a shuttler, you need to be ready as opportunities may just come knocking on your door," NST quoted Kisona as saying.

Next, she is hoping to gather valuable ranking points at the All England tournament, happening from March 17 to 22, and the Orleans Masters from March 23 to 28.

"I'm currently world no 62, and course, it will not be easy to break into the top 30. However, I want to do it. That is my target for the year," said Kisona, who is the 2019 SEA Games champion in the women's badminton category.

Kisona sees the ranking as BAM's top player not as a pressure, but a responsibility, which will require her to work harder to prove her ability on a bigger stage.

The shuttler is known as the comeback queen among badminton fans on social media, due to her style of winning matches despite initially lagging behind her opponents.


Source: NST
Photo source: Stadium Astro, NST