PETALING JAYA: Women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei has given her badminton career a huge lift after battling into the Thailand Masters final.
There were question marks over Jin Wei's career after she struggled for form and fitness over the past two years and even experimented by playing in mixed doubles with Ng Eng Cheong last year.
Jin Wei, who celebrated her 26th birthday on Friday, also saw her world rankings slide to No. 68 but refused to throw in the towel.
Yesterday, she richly rewarded for her perseverance when she fought hard to beat compatriot Wong Ling Ching 17-21, 21-17, 21-16 in 57 minutes at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday (Jan 31)
It was her fourth final in an Open tournament after finishing second in the 2016 Indonesian Masters, 2017 Taiwan Open and 2022 Vietnam Open.
Jin Wei now has an opportunity to end her wait for an Open title but standing in her way is India's world No. 63 Devika Sihag.
Jin Wei's coach Nova was pleased with his charge for holding on until the end in an energy sapping match.
"It was a very tense match. I just told Jin Wei to hold on and focus on the last few points. Her experience made the difference in the end," said Nova.
"I'm happy she managed to come through to reach the final. She is very tired now and needs to recover well first for the final. It will be a tough match but there is a chance for her to win the title."
Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for Ling Ching after a fine showing in the tournament.
The 22-year-old can still hold her head high after progressing to the last four for the first time in a World Tour Super 300 event.
RESULTS
Semi-finals
Men’s singles: Panitchapon Teeraratsakul (Tha) bt Zhu Xuanchen (Chn) 21-14, 21-11; Moh Zaki Ubaidillah (Ina) bt Alwi Farhan (Ina) 21-18, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana (Ina) bt Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat (Ina) 21-8, 21-18; Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin bt Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi (Chn) 21-16, 21-15.
Women’s singles: Goh Jin Wei (Mas) bt Wong Ling Ching (Mas) 17-21, 21-17, 21-16; Devika Sihag (Ind) bt Huang Yu-hsun (Tpe) 22-20, 21-13.
Women’s doubles: Bao Lijing-Li Yijing (Chn) bt Febriana Dwipuji-Meilysa Trias (Ina) 21-11, 16-21, 21-15; Amallia Cahaya-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti (Ina) bt Kaho Osawa-Mai Tanabe (Jpn) 21-23, 21-12, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Bobby Setiabudi-Melati Daeva (Ina) bt Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina (Ina) 21-8, 21-18; Adnan Maulana-Indah Cahaya (Ina) bt Akira Koga-Natsu Saito (Jpn) 29-27, 21-16.
