PETALING JAYA: A more rigorous training schedule could be the key to turning women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei’s form around next year.
Jin Wei had a difficult year where she had suffered first-round exits in 14 out of her 21 tournaments.
The 23-year-old though remains Malaysia’s best bet in the women’s singles to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Coach Nova Armada believes his charge, who has been slowly finding her feet since recovering from a colectomy surgery in 2019, will get better next year as she has been able to cope with two tough training sessions daily.
“I can see that Jin Wei’s stamina is improving,” said Nova.
“She has been able to train twice a day since last month and I believe she will be better prepared next year.”
Nova wants Jin Wei, who is currently ranked No. 28 in the world, to challenge the top players more regularly next year.
“My target for her next year is to try and beat the world’s top 16 players more often.
“I want her to give them a tougher time in tournaments leading up to the Olympics.”
Jin Wei’s best achievement last year was reaching the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open in Kowloon in September.
She had stunned China’s world No. 8 Han Yue en route to her last-four finish.
Jin Wei had also played an important role in the team’s bronze medal win at the Sudirman Cup in May.
She had memorably toppled India’s 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu in a crucial group stage match.
Jin Wei’s next assignment will be the Malaysian Open from Jan 9-14 in Bukit Jalil where she will be the sole home representative in the women’s singles.
