Goh-ing the distance
Youngster beats Ohori to reach third round
YOUNG and small-sized Goh Jin Wei is indeed one who does not give up easily.
The 18-year-old Jin Wei showed her dogged determination to win big in her World Championships debut when she knocked out 14th seed Aya Ohori of Japan 21-18, 22-20 in 42 minutes to reach the women’s singles third round.
The world No. 30 battled from 13-17 and 15-18 in the second game before picking five straight points to put herself on the brink of victory at the Youth Olympic Sports Park Arena yesterday.
Ohori saved two match points but Jin Wei showed nerves of steel to seal her first win over the world No. 16 in three encounters.
With the win, she also made amends after losing to the Japanese at the All-England last March.
And Jin Wei knows her upset win has given women’s singles head coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock a reason to smile.
He had challenged his charges, although ranked lower in standings, to turn the tables on the big guns in Nanjing.
“I was really lucky to win,” said the 2015 world junior champion.
“When she fought back to make it 20-20, it could have gone either way.
“Fortunately, I was able to stay composed to seal the win in straight games.
“She was struggling earlier in the game. So, I consider myself very, very lucky.
“I watched the video recording of Aya three to four times. That really helped.
“I was able to catch up even when I trailed 13-17.
“I’m so happy to finally beat her and more importantly, reaching the last 16.”
While one Japanese is down, Jin Wei is now ready to face another giant from the Land of the Rising Sun – defending champion Nozomi Okuhara.
“It’s my first meeting against her, so I’m really looking forward to the match,” said Jin Wei.
“I think, I have to be prepared to play for three hours against her.”
World No. 6 Okuhara is famous for her endurance and never-say-die attitude.
She prevailed in a 110-minute epic battle against India’s P.V. Sindhu to emerge as the first women’s singles champion from Japan at the world meet in Glasgow last year.
In the men’s singles, Liew Daren, as expected, powered past Misha Zilberman of Israel 21-16, 21-16 to set up a last-16 clash against world No. 5 K. Srikanth of India.
“I have beaten Srikanth twice (at the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in 2012 and 2013) but this time, I’ll be the underdog,” said Daren.
“But I’ll try to defy the odds in the tournament.
“No one gave me a chance in the first round and now I’m in the last 16.”