PETALING JAYA: Up-and-coming national junior shuttler Siti Nurshuhaini Azman’s hopes of making her Uber Cup Finals debut in Aarhus, Denmark from Oct 9-17 has been smashed.
The 17-year-old was supposed to leave for Denmark with seven other teammates on Monday night but was denied from boarding the flight because she had yet to be fully vaccinated.
The national immunisation programme for teenagers aged between 12-17 had only started on Sept 20 and Nurshuhaini received her first Pfizer shot on Sept 24.
“I knew beforehand that only a fully vaccinated person will be allowed to travel, but obviously it was not possible for the second dose to be expedited as it requires a three-week gap,” said the disappointed shuttler, who still went to the airport, hoping to get the approval to fly to Denmark.
“My second dose appointment is on Oct 15.
“Yes I’m sad that I have to forgo my Uber Cup Finals debut, but this is beyond everyone’s control.”
Without Nurshuhaini, the Uber Cup squad are now left with nine members and only three singles shuttlers – S. Kisona, K. Letshanaa and Eoon Qi Xuan. Goh Jin Wei had earlier quit from the national team.
The other seven Thomas and Uber Cup-bound shuttlers who left to join the team that participated in the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland last week include Cheam June Wei, Leong Jun Hao, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Goh Sze Fei, Low Hang Yee, Lee Meng Yean and Go Pei Kee.
