Jin Wei is ace in Malaysian pack
WHILE reigning world junior champion Goh Jin Wei will be the one to watch, not just in the individual but also in the team event of the forthcoming Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok from July 9-17. The 16-year-old should prevail in the individual and could well be the trump card for Malaysia in the tough mixed team event.
Jin Wei, ranked 50 in the world, has steadily been improving and showed solid performances in the Uber Cup where she gave world No.1 Carolina Marin a tough fight, eventually losing in three sets. The Malaysian camp is hopeful the Singapore SEA Games silver medallist will deliver in both the individual and the team competitions.
Malaysia are aiming to regain the mixed team title which they last won in 2009. Malaysia also won the mixed team gold in 2007 and was runners-up in 2006, 2010 and 2011.
Jin Wei will lead the girls' team which also comprises S. Kisona. M. Thinaah, Eoon Qi Xuan (singles) and Toh Eei Wei-Yap Ling (doubles).
The boys team is made up of Dutch junior open champion Lee Zii Jia, national junior champion Leong Jun Hao, Sim Fong Hao and Tan Jia Wei in the singles. The doubles pairs are Soh Wooi Yik-Ooi Zi Zeng, Hoo Pang Ron-Chen Tang Jie and Cheng Yee Jun-Ng Eng Cheong.
The mixed doubles pairs are Ng Eng Cheong-Toh Ee Wei, Hoo Pang Ron-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Pearly Tan Koong Le.
For the record, the Malaysia won the boys' singles gold through Zulfadli Zulkifli in 2011 and Soo Teck Zie in 2013. No Malaysian girl has won the Asian junior singles title.
THE MALAYSIAN TEAM
BOYS
Lee Zii Jia
Leong Jun Hao
Sim Fong Hao
Tan Jia Wei
Soh Wooi Yik
Ooi Zi Zeng
Hoo Pang Ron
Chen Tang Jie
Chang Yee Jun
Ng Eng Cheong
GIRLS
Goh Jin Wei
S. Kisona
M. Thinaah
Eoon Qi Xuan
Toh Ee Wei
Yap Ling
Pearly Tan Koong Le
Mixed Doubles
Ng Eng Cheong-Toh Ee Wei
Hoo Pang Ron-M. Thinaah
Chen Tang Jie-Pearly Tan Koong Le
