KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's 14-year wait for the Sea Games women's singles gold medal came to an end today, when Goh Jin Wei triumphed over teammate Soniia Cheah in the final at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Jin Wei, 17, was clearly more fired up to be crowned champion, as she raced to a 21-11, 21-10 win in just 31 minutes.
At the previous edition in Singapore, Jin Wei could only manage a bronze, while the last Malaysian to win the women's singles gold prior to the final here on Tuesday, was Wong Mew Choo back in 2003 in Vietnam.
When asked if she now considers herself Malaysia's women's singles queen, Jin Wei said: "I think the gap between us and some of the other top international players is still huge.
"We need to improve game by game. In fact I consider myself lucky to have won today. I was very nervous before the final. The score may seem like I had any easy match but it wasn't.
"I never expected to win the gold here after settling for the bronze two years ago, so I am very happy with the win and I hope to improve more," said Jin Wei, who idolises Japan's Nozomi Okuhara, who was recently crowned World Championg in Glasgow, Scotland.
After clinching the 2015 world junior championships in Peru, the Sea Games gold can be considered another huge milestone for the young Penang-born.shuttler.
On her take on the new world champion, who saw off India's P.V.Sindhu in the final on Sunday, Jin Wei added: "I really look up to her (Okuhara) and hope to be like her one day.
"Their match was close to two hours, and physically I was tired watching it. I don't know how they do it.
"It will take some time before I reach that level."
Jin Wei, who nearly did not make the biennial Games due to injury, will next shift her focus towards the World Junior Championships in Yogyakarta in October, before concentrating on her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination the following month.