Coach wants Jin Wei to prove herself in Birmingham

PETALING JAYA: Sometimes, a harsh decision can take a player far.

And national women’s singles head coach Tey Seu Bock is hoping that Goh Jin Wei will redeem herself after being dropped from next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Seu Bock has named reigning national champion Soniia Cheah in place of Jin Wei for the Games.

Both Jin Wei and Soniia will make their debut in the All-England in Birmingham starting today.

Jin Wei has been drawn against her nemesis He Bingjiao of China while Soniia will open account against Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia.

Seu Bock hoped his girls would step up to the plate.

“I’m not putting pressure by setting unrealistic goals but I’m hoping they will upset higher-ranked players,” said Seu Bock.

“I hope Jin Wei will use this tournament to prove herself. I know that she is capable and she must have the same belief.

“For Soniia, this will be a good platform to showcase her talent ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

“The women’s singles field will be competitive but I believe our players are not too far behind,” he added.

The race for the title is a wide open one as more than 10 players have the potential to go back home as winners.

The contenders are Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying; India’s Saina Nehwal and P.V.Sindhu; Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi; Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon and Busanan Ongbamrungphan; Spain’s Carolina Marin; South Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun; and China’s Sun Yu, Chen Yufei, Bingjiao.

Meanwhile, in the doubles, Malaysia will be banking on Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin (men’s doubles) and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Goh Soon HuatShevon Lai Jemie (mixed).