KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei’s health woes struck again as she crashed out in the first round of the World Championships on Tuesday.
World No. 52 Jin Wei went down tamely 21-14, 21-9 to China‘s world No. 14 Gao Fang Jie at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
The 25-year-old put up a brave fight in the opening game but faded fast in the second, bowing out in just 34 minutes.
Jin Wei has been battling a stomach ailment since 2019, which led to a colectomy in 2021 and forced her to take time off from the sport to recover.
Although she now manages her condition with a strict diet and tailored training programme, the independent shuttler has yet to rediscover the form that once made her one of badminton’s brightest young stars, having won the girls’ singles crown at the 2015 and 2018 World Junior Championships.
Her coach, Nova Armada, admitted that morning matches remain a major hurdle.
“Jin Wei is around 80 per cent at her best when she plays in the afternoon or evening, but only about 60 per cent in the mornings,” said Nova.
He explained that her long-standing digestive issues often prevent her from feeling physically settled early in the day, affecting both her rhythm and confidence.
At the same time, Nova said Jin Wei can be caught out when conditions do not favour her, especially when she takes an overconfident approach against attacking players.
“Against attacking players, she likes it because it suits her game, but when conditions are not in her favour, it becomes difficult for her,” he said.
Looking ahead, Nova has set a target for Jin Wei to climb back into the world’s top 32 by the end of next year.
“Her preparations have been good, but she still needs to adapt to these situations,” he added.
“It’s all part of the process of returning to the top.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
