JIN WEI TURNS GIANTKILLER AT MALAYSIAN OPEN
Jin Wei upsets world No. 9 South Korean Ji-hyun to reach last eight
KUALA LUMPUR: Beating a world top 10 opponent is something that Goh Jin Wei is getting accustomed to of late.
The 18-year-old stunned world No. 9 Sung Ji-hyun of South Korea 15-21, 21-18, 23-21 to reach the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open at the Axiata Arena yesterday.
What made the world No. 31's victory more impressive was that she clawed back from two match points to prevail against the 2015 World Championships bronze medallist Ji-hyun in 78 minutes.
Just a month ago, she upstaged world No. 8 He Bingjiao of China at the Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand.
"It's crazy. I’m still trying to digest it (the win over Ji-hyun)," said Jin Wei at a post-match conference.
"I thought I was going to lose it! At that time (19-20), my mind went blank and I let God decide. I think, I was really lucky to win."
But Jin Wei's victory was not due to sheer luck. It was won with gut and grit.
In the deciding game, Jin Wei built a commanding lead at 18-11 and 19-14, only to allow Ji-hyun to storm back to level 19-19.
The Korean then put herself on the verge of victory twice at 20-19 and then 22-21, while Jin Wei bravely fought back to seal her first quarter-final appearance in a top-flight tournament.
"When I pulled away from her, Ji-hyun tried to disrupt my momentum by taking her own sweet time between points," she recalled the crucial moment.
"Fortunately, the home supporters were with me. I was not going to back down even when she held the match point."
Jin Wei will take on world No. 1 and defending champion Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan today and she was quick to play down the prospect of another upset.
"It'll be my first time meeting Tzuying. I’m looking at nothing but an opportunity to close the gap with her. She's the world No. 1, there's plenty of room to catch up."
Malaysia’s interest in the women's doubles ended with the exits of Vivian Hoo-Soong Fie Cho and Tan Sueh JeouLim Chiew Sien.
Scratch combination Vivian-Fie Cho went down 14-21, 9-21 to reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan while Chiew Sien-Sueh Jeou were beaten 15-21, 15-21 by Indonesia's Della Destiara Haris-Rizki Amelia Pradipta.