Jin Wei storms into Korea Open quarter-finals
Former national No 1 Goh Jin Wei has just made it even more difficult for the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to ignore her for the Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok next month.
Yesterday, the 22-year-old continued her remarkable return to competitive action by storming into the women’s singles quarter-finals of the Korea Open in Suncheon.
A determined Jin Wei prevailed in yet another energy-sapping battle, winning 21-17, 17-21, 21-12 against Lee Se Yeon of South Korea to reach her first World Tour quarter-finals since the German Open in March 2019.
Jin Wei has the opportunity to strut her stuff further when she meets world No 20 Kim Ga Eun today.
Ga Eun secured the biggest upset of the day when she downed Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China 21-17, 21-19.
Jin Wei said she is surprised by her fine run.
“I didn’t expect this (good run). All I was aiming for was to take one match at a time and fight for every single point. I didn’t give myself any target for this event,” said Jin Wei, who is playing in her first international tournament in 10 months.
“However, I hope to deliver whatever that I had trained for this week.”
In the men’s singles, Ng Tze Yong stamped his class with a 21-14, 21-19 win over Korea’s Kim Dong Hun and will face Sheshar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia next.
Cheam June Wei, however, failed to make it an all-Malaysian last eight following a 21-14, 17-21, 21-17 defeat to China’s Weng Hong Yang.
Malaysia are well-represented in the mixed doubles, with Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Ong Yew Sin-Goh Liu Ying still in contention.
While Kian Meng-Pei Jing powered to a 21-11, 21-9 victory in just 25 minutes, Yew Sin-Liu Ying can certainly count their blessing as they did not even lift their racquets.
Following a first-round bye, Yew Sin-Liu Ying received a walkover from top seeds Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung.
“We were told about the walkover when we were warming up.
“It feels strange obviously, but it did happen to me 10 years ago, then it was in the women’s doubles with (Lim) Yin Loo.
“At that time, we won just one match and made the semi-finals. Hopefully, Yew Sin and I can take advantage of this,” said Liu Ying.
RESULTS (Malaysians unless stated) — 2nd rd, Men’s singles: Ng Tze Yong bt Kim Dong Hun (Kor) 21-14, 21-19, Weng Hong Yang (Chn) bt Cheam June Wei 21-14, 17-21, 21-17;
Doubles: Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin (Ina) 22-20, 21-11; Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Seung Jae (Kor) bt Goh V Shem-Low Juan Shen 21-6, 22-20; Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong 19-21, 21-13, 21-13.
Women’s singles: Goh Jin Wei bt Lee Se Yeon (Kor) 21-17, 17-21, 21-12;
Doubles: Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) bt Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien 21-10, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing bt Na Sung Seung-Kim Min Ji (Kor) 21-11, 21-9; Ong Yew Sin-Goh Liu Ying w. o. Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung; Hidori Morikawa-Natsu Saito (Jpn) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-15, 23-21.
