Great chance for Jin Wei to shine

A file picture of Goh Jin Wei. She has a knack for beating players older than her and will hoping to do well in the Asian Junior Championships.

KUALA LUMPUR: Young badminton talent Goh Jin Wei will get a chance to strut her stuff at the Asian Junior Championships in Taiwan from Feb 16-23.

The 13-year-old Jin Wei, who was promoted to the national women’s singles squad last month, has been named for the junior meet together with Ho Yen Mei, Lee Ying Ying and S. Kisona.

Malaysia have yet to taste success in the girls’ singles event in the Asian junior series.

Jin Wei, who has a knack for beating players older than her, will be seeking to outdo herself when she takes on the best juniors from Indonesia, Thailand, India, China and South Korea.

The Penangite gave a commendable performance in her debut at the World Junior Championships last year but a lack of experience and a hamstring injury saw her withdrawing from the third round in Bangkok.

Yen Mei, who completed her Form Five studies last year, is better prepared to mount a strong assault in her last Asian junior outing. Yen Mei, who trains full-time under Wong Tat Meng, is expected to give a stronger performance.

In the boys’ division, four shuttlers – Cheam June Wei, R. Satheishtharan, Tan Teck Han, Lee Zii Jia – all face a tall order trying to defend the title won by Soo Teck Zhi last year.

The others named for the junior meet are boys’ doubles shuttlers Sim Guo Zeng-Tan Jin Hwa, Chua Kheh Wei-Ng Di Hua, Chen Jia Huo-Goh Sze Fei and girls’ pairs Goh Yea Ching-Peck Yen Wei, Eng Pui Yee-Tew Jia Jia, Raja Nurnina-Yap Zhen.