PETALING JAYA: Young singles shuttler Lim Zhi Shin dreams of following in the footsteps of her idol, Spanish star Carolina Marin.

The former world No. 1 Marin is one of badminton’s greatest - an Olympic gold medallist in Rio 2016, a three-time world champion and an eight-time European champion.

But she first made her mark as a junior, winning bronze at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Taiwan.

Now, the 18-year-old Zhi Shin hopes to begin her journey on the same stage. She is eyeing a spot in the Malaysian squad for the upcoming World Junior Championships in Guwahati, India, from Oct 6-19.

“I admire Marin’s playing style and fighting spirit. She’s a fast, attacking player,” said Zhi Shin, who joined the women’s singles national team under coach Mis­bun Ramdan last February.

Marin’s career has been defined by resilience, overcoming multiple knee surgeries to return and win again, which is a quality that inspires Zhi Shin.

“I hope to be like her one day. She never gives up and always shows fighting spirit on court.”

The national Under-21 champion had her first taste of international junior action at the Asian Junior Championships in Indone­sia in July but crashed out in the second round.

“I didn’t do well at the Asian juniors, but hopefully I’ll get another chance to prove myself at the world juniors.”

Since joining the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2024, Zhi Shin has seen steady progress.

“I’ve been training hard and joining BAM is a dream come true. I know I must improve my skills, power and attacking game to keep pace with international opponents,” said the Penang-born shuttler, who picked up the sport at the age of 10 under her father’s guidance.

Besides Zhi Shin, the other players in the national junior squad are Eng Ler Qi, Shaneesa Shahidi, Oo Shan Zi, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching.