MULHEIM: Two-time world junior champion Goh Jin Wei pulled off a stunning upset when she defeated fourth seeded American Zhang Biwen to advance to the women’s singles semi-finals at the German Open in Mulheim earlier today (Saturday).
The national women’s singles shuttler however did not have it easy against her American opponent, who made her sweat for the win, with Jin Wei finally prevailing by taking the match 21-19, 19-21, 21-16 in 53 minutes.
The 19-year-old World No 26 who hails from Bukit Mertajam, squared off against another tough opponent in the semi-finals later today (Saturday) in the form of second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.
In the men’s doubles event, national pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were in top form as they overcame fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 22-20, 21-18 to book their place in the semi-finals.
“I felt that our match against Aaron and Wooi Yik was quite evenly balanced, it’s just that towards the end Sze Fei and me managed to take control. In the semi-finals all we can hope for is to carry our good run of form and maintain our winning momentum while not buckling under any pressure,” said Nur Izzuddin.
Like Jin Wei, World No 50 ranked Sze-Fei-Nur Izzuddin will go up against second seeded Japanese pair Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe for a place in the final. Earlier the Japanese duo defeated national pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 23-21, 21-12 to book their place in the semi-finals.
In mixed doubles, national pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai were also in top form when they pulled off an upset of their own as they got the better of fourth seeds He Jiting-Du Yue of China 23-21, 21-16.
In men’s singles however, the challenge carried by national shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Soong Joo Ven came to an end in the quarter-finals, with World No 28 ranked Zii Jia going down to second seed Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 18-21, 20-22, while World No 96 Joo Ven suffered defeat at the hands of Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus who laboured to a 13-21, 21-18, 15-21 win.
