Linggian present his personal BWF Toss Coin to Nur Zulaikha.
KOTA KINABALU (May 12): Sabah has added another proud chapter to its sporting history as Nur Zulaikha Ismail became the first Sabahan woman to earn the prestigious Badminton Asia (BA) Certificated Umpire status.
The 31-year-old is only the second Sabahan to attain the elite qualification in badminton officiating after Datuk Anthony C Linggian who achieved the milestone in 1998.
The recognition is the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice, and passion for Nur Zulaikha, who first fell in love with the sport as a teenager in Beaufort.
Her journey into umpiring began at the age of 15 under the guidance of mentor Teo Han Chai.
Encouraged by her then school principal, Seah Soo Lin of SM St John, Beaufort, she actively took part in local tournaments and steadily built her reputation as a disciplined and committed official.
Step by step, she climbed the national officiating ladder, passing the BAM Level 1 Umpire certification in 2010 followed by Level 2 in 2012 before attaining BAM Level 3 in 2014, the highest national umpiring qualification in Malaysia.
She soon earned opportunities on the international stage.
In 2016, Nur Zulaikha impressed assessors during national umpire evaluations in Kuala Terengganu, leading to her selection for international appraisal under Badminton Asia, the governing body for badminton across 43 Asian countries under the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Her international officiating journey included assignments and assessments at the Singapore Youth International Series in 2019, the BA Accredited Umpire assessment in Bangkok in 2022, and the BA Certificated Umpire appraisal in Chengdu, China in 2025, where she was selected among Asia top candidates.
Earlier this year, she completed her final BA Certification assessment during the BA Championships in Ningbo, China.
“Being a married woman, this journey has not been easy but my passion for badminton officiating has kept me going,” Nur Zulaikha was quoted as saying in a statement.
Nur Zulaikha’s achievement is seen as a major breakthrough for women in sports officiating in Sabah and reflects the state’s growing presence in international badminton circles.
Throughout her career, she credited Badminton Asia, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Sabah Badminton Association, and her mentor Linggian for their support and guidance.
She has officiated at several high-profile tournaments, including the Malaysia Masters Open 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Macau Open 2025, and the 13th Asean Para Games in Korat, Thailand.
Looking ahead, Nur Zulaikha now sets her sights on achieving the coveted BWF Umpire Certification which is the highest recognition in international badminton officiating.
As a gesture of encouragement, Linggian presented her with his personal BWF toss coin, which was awarded to him in 2001 when he attained his own BWF Umpire status during the Sudirman Cup in Spain.
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