Jin Wei told to go for world junior title

NATIONAL women’s singles head coach Tey Seu Bock wants Sea Games gold medallist Goh Jin Wei to recapture the world junior title in October.

Last week, Jin Wei, who won the world junior title in 2015, claimed her maiden Sea Games gold when she saw off teammate and national No 1 Soniia Cheah in the final at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.

It may have been an all Malaysian final, but Seu Bock is not entirely convinced with the strength of the squad.

“Of course I’m happy for Jin Wei and Soniia, but let’s admit it, they are still nowhere near some of the world’s best.

“If you watched the World Championships final (Nozomi Okuhara vs P.V. Sindhu) you can see how far they are ahead in terms of standard.

“I hope our players will one day reach that level.

“It won’t happen overnight, but I hope the players see it too,” said Seu Bock, who wants Jin Wei to reach the world junior final in Yogyakarta next month.

“I spoke to her (Jin Wei) even before the Sea Games.

“I want her to recapture the title, because she won it before but last year did not defend it.

“She has to either reach the final or win it, only then will people look up to her as champion.”

On his concern surrounding the women’s singles department and injuries, Sey Bock added: “I am actually not too concerned about injuries, it all goes back to your training. It can be managed.

“The problem here is our players are weak, mentally.

“Before anything, they are already making things up in their head.

“They must build up. That is the only way.”

Apart from the World Junior Championships, Seu Bock will also be looking to the Uber Cup, Asian and Commonwealth Games next year. Fabian Peter