WONG Choong Hann was full of praise for independent shuttler Goh Jin Wei after she went down fighting 21-19, 14-21, 18-21 to India’s world No. 7, P. V. Sindhu in the quarter-finals at the National Exhibition Centre yesterday.
It was the second meeting between world No. 60 Jin Wei and the 2019 world champion after last week’s mixed team final where Sindhu had prevailed after two tight games.
This time, the Malaysian stunned the Indian by nicking the first game after a close battle.
Sindhu came roaring back to take the second game but Jin Wei remained undeterred and battled hard in the third but fell just short.
“She gave her all in the match. It was a great effort,” said the national singles coaching director.
Despite exiting the competition, Choong Hann felt that Jin Wei played consistently well throughout her campaign.
Jin Wei’s efforts in her matches against Sindhu were even more noteworthy as the Indian is considered the hot favourite for the individual title.
And despite failing to win a medal in the individual event, Jin Wei had proven her ability as the best women’s singles player in the country.
Choong Hann however remained tight lipped on whether the 22-year-old’s eye-catching performances will earn her a recall into the national team.
She had left the Badminton Association of Malaysia last year when she announced her retirement citing health reasons after undergoing colectomy surgery in 2019.
The 22-year-old then decided to return as an independent player and signed with Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club before going it on her own.
