Gritty: Goh Jin Wei gave a fighting display in the mixed team final against India’s world No. 7 P. V. Sindhu. — AP
WILL a good showing in the Commonwealth Games prompt a recall to the national team for women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei?
The independent player has proved her ability as the top women’s singles ace in the country with her fighting display in the mixed team final against world No. 7 P. V. Sindhu.
The Malaysian now faces a rematch against the Indian in the quarter-finals of the individual event and another good display could convince the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to have a re-think on whether to invite her back to the national team.
Jin Wei had left the BAM last year when she announced her retirement from the sport, citing health reasons after undergoing colectomy surgery in 2019.
The 22-year-old then decided to play again as an independent player and signed a contract with the Kuala Lumpur Racket Club (KLRC).
She had reiterated that she was unable to give her full commitment to the national team due to her health issues.
In her absence, the BAM had been struggling to produce high-quality women’s singles players and chose Jin Wei to represent the country in the quadrennial Games.
The Penang-born lass is determined to repay the faith shown in her.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity BAM have given me to play in the Games.
‘‘I want to repay their faith shown in me by doing well,” Jin Wei had said after the mixed team final.
If Jin Wei returns to the national fold, she won’t be the first independent to do so as Chan Peng Soon made a comeback early this year.
Meanwhile, national No. 1 men’s and women’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are safely through to the quarter-finals.
Aaron-Wooi Yik overcame Scotland’s Christopher Grimley-Matthew Grimley 21-19, 21-16 while Pearly-Thinaah had an even easier time when they swept aside South Africa’s Deidre Jordaan-Johanita Scholtz 21-6, 21-4.
Both pairs are expected to reach the last four with minimal fuss.
