Jin Wei Happy With Fitness Despite Loss To Saena In Final - SEA Games-bound shuttler Goh Jin Wei (pic) was all smiles despite failing to nail her first international title this season at the Taiwan Open.
The 17-year-old Jin Wei showed no signs of the ankle injury she aggravated in April in the 17-21, 17-21 loss to 19-year-old Saena Kawakami of Japan in a 39-minute women’s singles final at the Taipei Arena yesterday.
“The good news is that I’m injury-free,” declared Jin Wei, who was seeded third in the second-tier Grand Prix Gold tournament.
It was world No. 44 Jin Wei’s third loss to world No. 59 Kawakami.
It was pleasing to see Jin Wei snapping at the heels of Kawakami right from the start until the score stood at 17-17.
That was when the Japanese pulled away to take the opening game.
Jin Wei held a five-point advantage – 10-5 – in the second game, but the Japanese fought back to seal victory.
The 2015 world junior champion’s progress had been hampered by an ankle injury she picked up in her second-round loss at the Malaysian Masters in Sibu in January.
The Taiwan Open is only her sixth international tournament since making a return in April.
“I’ve got the tournament feeling back.
“Before this, my performances weren’t good and my world ranking dropped,” said Jin Wei.
“I have not even played 10 tournaments this year and that slowed down my rise in the world ranking. It’s okay, I’ll only get better from here.
“I also don’t want to push myself. It’s better that I focus on training more before stepping up to the plate at international tournaments.
“Eventually, I will move up the world ranking,” added Jin Wei, who was once ranked No. 29 in the world.
On her preparations for the SEA Games (Aug 19-30), she said: “I won a bronze at the last Games (in Singapore 2015) but I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’ll be ready for it.”
Jin Wei will now switch her attention to two junior tournaments – Asean Schools Championships in Singapore (July 13-21) and Asian Junior Championships in Jakarta (July 22-25).
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) bt Wang Tzuwei (Tpe) 18-21, 21-19, 21-15.
Men’s doubles: Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-lin (Tpe) bt Lee Jhe-huei-Lee-yang (Tpe) 21-16, 22-20.
Women’s singles: Saena Kawakami (Jpn) bt Goh Jin Wei (Mas) 21-17, 21-17.
Women’s doubles: Chae Yoo-jung-Kim So-yeong (Kor) bt Kim Hye-rin-Yoo Hae-won (Kor) 21-12, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Seo Seung-jae-Kim Ha-na (Kor) bt Wang Chi-lin-Lee Chia-hsin (Tpe) 22-20, 21-10.
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