Two years after winning the bronze in her Sea Games debut Goh Jin Wei was crowned the women’s singles badminton champion in the 29th edition of the biennial games at the Axiata Arena, in KL Sports City, Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old former world junior champion strolled to a 21-11, 21-10 win over compatriot Saniia Cheah in 31 minutes – a big morale booster for the Malaysian rising star who will also compete in this year’s world junior meet in Jakarta in October.
“The score may look I had an easy match but it was not. It was tough and tense on the court,” said JIn Wei, who won the world junior in Lima, Peru in 2015.
“I am happy to contribute another medal to Malaysia. It is a surprise in many ways as I was not even sure if I would be playing this Sea Games because I was bogged down by injury.
“To win the gold in only my second Sea Games is really unexpected because there are so many good players around. It was a tough field when you consider the world ranked players from Thailand and Indonesia,” added Jin Wei.
Coach Tey Seu Bok was all smiles after seeing two of his charges featuring in an all-Malaysia women’s final.
“Heartening to note that we achieved something in this Sea Games when we had a much lower target. To win a gold and a silver in the women’s singles and a (women) team silver is something I am proud of,” said Seu Bok who was appointed the new women’s singles head coach six weeks ago.
Malaysia last won the women’s singles gold in the 2003 Sea Games in Hanoi through (Datin) Wong Mew Choo who is now married to Malaysia’s No 1 men’s singles player Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Christie Jonatan, the top seed, won the men’s singles gold after a 21-19, 21-16 win over second seed Khosit Phetradab of Thailand in a 37 minute final.
“This gold is special to me because this is the only gold for Indonesia in the individual events,” said Christie.
Indonesia retained the men’s team gold with a 3-0 win over Malaysia in the final. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULTS (FINAL)
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Goh Jin Wei (Mas) beat Soniia Cheah (Mas) 21-11, 21-10
MEN’S SINGLES
Jonatan Christie (Ina) beat Khosit Phetpradab (Tha)
