KUALA LUMPUR – National player Goh Jin Wei gave her all in trying to bring down world number 2 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the last 16 at the Malaysia Masters today.
Much to her fans’ surprise, she started the game energetically, stunning the second seed 16-21.
However, Tzu Ying caught up to her in the remaining sets 21-7, 21-9 to prove that the 69th ranked Goh Jin Wei has much to learn when facing a higher-ranked shuttler.
“I put 200% in the first game, maybe that is why I could not keep up with the rest of the set.
“I learnt a lot from her strategy and she played very patiently,” Jin Wei told the media after her match at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
“But, I am sad I could not make it to the next round. I think there would be more crowd tomorrow.”
Jin Wei, who is bound for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, also met a higher-ranked player in the opening round yesterday when she defeated American Zhang Beiwen in 35 minutes.
She added that facing some of the top players like Beiwen and Tzu Ying is also good preparation for the Commonwealth Games slated for the end of the month.
“Playing against Beiwen and Tzu Ying gave me the confidence to do better.
“Even though our gap is big, I know I can match their speed and strategy.”
The 22-year-old is adamant that today’s loss will not traumatise her, saying that the game will prepare her better for her first Commonwealth Games.
Jin Wei has also been getting help from fellow compatriots – men’s singles shuttler Cheam June Wei and Soong Joo Ven – who trained and motivated her to go further.
“There is no limit to how far I could go,” she added. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
