Young and restless
Jin Wei out to excel in World Junior Championships and SPM
THERE is no time for Goh Jin Wei to relax after emerging as one of the youngest SEA Games women’s singles champions.ns.
The 17-ye earold shuttler will have to report to schoo l today afterr skipping it forr half a year.
“I can’t even remember my teacher’s name! They probably can’t remember me either. I’ve missed school for so long. I need to catch up,” said Jin Wei, who is sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year at the Desa Sri Hartamas Secondary School.
Yesterday, Jin Wei proved that she is the emerging star of the nation when she powered her way past her senior Soniia Cheah for a commanding 21-11, 21-10 win in only 31 minutes at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Jin Wei sank to her knees in sheer delight – and relief – after ending the country’s 14-year wait for a women’s singles gold medallist in badminton in the SEA Games.
Wong Mew Choo was the last winner – at Vietnam 2003.
“I was stressed before the match but I’m just so happy now. I didn’t expect to go beyond the semi-finals but now I’ve won a gold,” said Jin Wei, who thanked the Malaysian fans for their overwhelming support.
“Two years ago, I won a bronze in Singapore. Now, I’m the SEA Games champion. It’s hard to believe.”
Jin Wei, however, admitted that it would take time for her to be in the same league as reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
Okuhara defeated Indian P.V. Sindhu in an almost two-hour long women’s singles final at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday.
“I was tired just watching the match. Can you imagine how the players must have felt? The level is different. I want to be like them but it’ll take time,” said Jin Wei.
Before her SPM, the 2015 world junior champion will play in the World Junior Championships in Indonesia from Oct 9-22 in Yogjakarta.
“I will miss the SPM trials because of the world juniors, but it’s OK. My problem is that I put too much expectations on myself. I’ll try to enjoy it this time,” she said.
Malaysia’s hopes of winning three golds were dashed following the defeats of Goh Soon Huat- Shevon Lai Jemie (mixed doubles) and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles) in the finals yesterday.
Soon Huat-Shevon paid the price for a sloppy start to go down 15-21, 20-22 in 42 minutes to Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
National No. 2 Ee Yi-Yew Sin had the best chance to nail the men’s doubles gold but they blew it despite taking comfortable leads against Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand.
“We just did not have good finishing,” lamented Ee Yi after their 19-21, 22-20, 17-21 loss to the Thais in 59 minutes.
Thailand, coached by Rexy Mainaky, were the biggest winners.
They won four out of the seven golds. Besides the three won yesterday, they had also clinched the women’s team gold earlier.