Malaysia’s hopes of winning the gold medal in women’s badminton in the 29th Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur took a severe beating in Jakarta on Monday when former world junior champion limped off injured in Malaysia’s 3-1 defeat in the Asian Junior Mixed Team Championships semi-finals.
The 17-year suffered a recurrence of her left ankle injury and wobbled off in tears in her women’s singles match against Gregoria Mariska. The Indonesian was leading 21-11, 17-16 after 37 minutes of play.
Jin Wei, who was also paired with Pearly Tan Koong Le in the women’s doubles in the third match of the day, saw Malaysia concede a walkover to make the score 1-2 after Malaysia drew level through Leong Jun Hoo in the men’s singles.
Jun Hao defeated Gatjra Piliang Fiqihilahi Cupu 21-17, 21-12 but it was an uphill task for the Malaysians when Jin Wei got injured.
Putting the Sea Games aside, Jin Wei, who is skipping the individual events in the Asian Junior Championships to play in next month’s second-tier New Zealand Open in Auckland from Aug 1-6 – the last tournament before the Sea Games.
“This is the same injury which knocked me out in the Malaysia Masters in Sibu early this year,” said a tearful Jin Wei, who was scheduled to leave for Auckland this Saturday.
“I am not sure of the extent of the injury but right now I am in pain. At this stage I don’t think I can go to New Zealand. As for the Sea Games…it can only be decided on the extent of my injury.”
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost was a picture of dejection and the Dane said: “It is a blow for the Sea Games. Things look bad.”
Meanwhile, top seeds Korea made Tuesday’s final with a 3-1 win over Japan. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
RESULTS (Semi-Finals)
Indonesia beat Malaysia 3-1
(Indonesia first)
WS: Gregoria Mariska beat Goh Jin Wei 21-11, 17-16 (rtd)
MS: Leong Jun Hao beat Gatjra Piliang Fiqihilahi Cupu 21-17, 21-12
WD: Agatha Imanuele-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti w/o Goh Jin Wei-Pearly Tan Koong Le
MD: Muhammad Shohibul Fikri-Adnan Maulana beat Chang Yee Jun-Man Chong Wei Man 21-17, 21-15
Korea beat Japan 3-1
