KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei’s (pic) task in the Paris Olympic Games in Paris next month has just been made harder without her coach Nova Armada.
The professional player could not hide her disappointment after learning that Nova is unable to get accreditation due to limited passes available.
Jin Wei said she needs her coach to guide her during the tournament.
“Nova has been guiding me for three years and helped me qualify for the Olympics but now he can’t follow me,” said Jin Wei after meeting Olympics chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin at Bubble Sports Center in Cheras yesterday.
“I feel disappointed as he understands my physical condition and game well.
“It will be tough for me to manage without him. As an independent player, I do have to play sometimes without him like in the Commonwealth Games and Sudirman Cup but this is different.
“I have qualified for the Olympics, thanks to his guidance, and now it’s so hard to accept that he won’t be there,” added Jin Wei.
Jin Wei though will not be left in a lurch as national coaching director Rexy Mainaky has agreed to step in to guide her during the tournament.
Hamidin confirmed this when asked on the matter.
“It’s difficult to get accreditation as the organisers are very strict with the passes but we are trying our best to find the best solution for everyone,” said Hamidin.
“We have held discussions with Nova and Rexy and the latter will guide Jin Wei.
She will join the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) players and train with them in Paris from July 23. She will also continue to get support services from the National Sports Institute (NSI).”
Jin Wei, who is ranked No. 33 in the world, will be making her debut in the OIympics and is the sole Malaysian women’s singles player to qualify.
The other shuttlers representing Malaysia are independent player Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles) and BAM pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles).
Hamidin also took time to visit world No. 7 Zii Jia at his training centre in Sports Arena Sentosa yesterday.
