Energy intact: Goh Jin Wei hitting a shot back to Soniia Cheah during the Purple League semi-final match at the Arena of Stars in Genting Higlands. — S.S KANESAN / The Star)
GENTING HIGHLANDS: She can have only one meal a day but that won’t stop shuttler Goh Jin Wei from soldiering on to fulfil her Olympic Games dream.
The 22-year-old is determined to keep pushing herself in her bid to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics despite a myriad of challenges.
The independent player knows that she will not have it easy in her bid to qualify for the Paris stint and has opened up on her struggles after her colectomy surgery in 2019.
“I still have to take medication after the surgery to keep playing badminton and this has affected me as I wake up three or four times at night due to stomach pain,” said Jin Wei.
“The dosage of my medication needs to be increased as the intensity in training and matches get higher and it comes with side effects too.
“I can only have one meal a day usually at night. And when I have to train or play matches in the daytime, I don’t have enough energy. It’s the same as when you are fasting,” she explained.
But the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games champion is not one to give up without a fight and is confident that she can cope with the situation.
“I feel like I can adapt myself accordingly and cope with all this,” said the two-time world junior champion.
“I’ve received lots of support and encouragement from my family, friends, coaches and fans and this has really spurred me to do well.”
Her hard work was rewarded last week when she reached her first World Tour final at the Vietnam Open and that saw her moving up six rungs from the world No. 44 spot.
She has also reached the semi-finals of the Italian International in June and quarter-finals of Opens in South Korean (April) and Taiwan (July). In the Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok, she upstaged Line Christophersen of Denmark and went down fighting to Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in three games.
“Reaching the Vietnam Open final has given me more confidence and I want to keep getting better,” said Jin Wei, who trains under Indonesian Nova Armada at Sports Affairs.
“My goal is to qualify for the Paris Olympics. I will keep working hard to fulfil my Olympics dream.”
Yesterday, Jin Wei did well for Ampang Jaya Badminton Club in the Senheng RedOne Purple League Professional.
She helped her team reach the final when she overcame Puchong United’s Soniia Cheah 11-6, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7,11-9 in a thrilling semi-final tie at the Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands. Ampang BC went on to beat Puchong United BC 9-5.
Ampang BC will take on Petaling Badminton Club today for the title. Petaling Badminton Club bt Sena Bangkok Club 10-3 (Brice Leverdez bt Kittipong Imnark 11-4, 11-7, 11-8; Pai Yu-Po lost to Busanan Ongbamrungphan 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11; Goh V Shem-Low Juan Shen bt Kittisak Namdash-Tan Wee Kiong 11-8, 11-6, 11-4; Chen Tang Jie-Lai Pei Jing bt Yap Qar Siong-Atitaya Povanon 11-4, 11-6, 11-4). Ampang Jaya Badminton Club bt Puchong United Badminton Club 9-5 (Chou Tien-chen lost to Lee Cheuk Yiu 7-11, 2-11, 7-11; Goh Jin Wei bt Soniia Cheah 11-6, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9; Moh Reza Pahlevi-Sabar Gutama bt Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 11-9, 11-4, 11-7; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Tan Kian Meng-Goh Liu Ying 11-10, 11-6, 11-6).
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
