She’s a Goh- getter KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Jin Wei ( pic) is thrilled to be the national No. 1 women’s singles player. And the 16- year- old hopes to quickly justify it by winning the national title for the first time at the ongoing National Grand Prix Finals

Jin Wei wants to justify national No. 1 tag by winning GP Finals

not take this too seriously ... there are many other tougher challenges for me out there,” she said.

“It will mean more to me to win the national title. Hopefully, I will go all the way to get it right this time,” added Jin Wei, who lost to Jing Yi in a straight- games final last year.

If Jin Wei wins it, she will be the second youngest player to win the national title as a national No. 1 after Ng Mee Fen’s feat in 1998. Then, national No. 1 Mee Fen was also 16 but she was six months younger than Jin Wei.

Jin Wei, who failed to defend her world junior title in Bilbao, Spain, this year, said that she was learning to enjoy the game again.

“I lost some of the joy of playing badminton when I failed to live up to my own expectations at the Asian and world junior tournaments this year,” said the Penangite.

“It affected me but fortunately, I am over it. Now, I just want to turn back the time and enjoy the game like I used to. I do not want to pile unnecessary pressure on myself ... I just want to have lots of fun on the court.

And yesterday, she showed traces of her old self with a confident display to beat Lee Ying Ying 21- 15, 21- 15 in 35 minutes to reach the women’s singles semi- finals as the Group B champion.

She will take on Group A runner- up Ho Yen Mei for a place in the final. The other semi- final will be between Jing Yi and Soniia Cheah.

“The standard of the women’s singles is close and I am expecting a close match tomorrow. I will be ready,” said Jin Wei, who holds an unbeaten record against Yen Mei.

National back- up shuttler Lim Chi Wing caused the biggest upset when he defeated second seed Chong Wei Feng 8- 21, 21- 13, 21- 17 to check into his first semi- finals as the Group B champion.

He will take on Group D winner Goh Giap Chin while the other semi- final will be between Group A champion Tan Chun Seang and Group C winner Chong Yee Han.