Badminton

Jin Wei on a mission

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Jin Wei is a woman on a mission, and that is to record as many upsets as possible in the World Championships in Nanjing.

The 18-year-old, on Wednesday, proved why she is still an important asset to the national team when she stunned 14th seed Aya Ohori of Japan 21-18, 22-20 in the second round of the world meet.

The former world junior champion, however, will face her biggest challenge when she takes on defending champion Nozomi Okuhara, also from Japan, on Thursday.

Okuhara barely broke sweat in her second round tie, chalking up an easy 21-11, 21-9 win over Canada's Rachel Honderich.

National women's singles coach Tey Seu Bock is pleased with Jin Wei's performance so far, and wants her to continue playing without pressure.

"From the start, I just wanted her to play her game. That is why, we did not set a target for her. Whoever she faces, I want her to play without pressure because she has got nothing to lose.

"So far, she has been impressive here. Her main mission now is to just upset higher ranked opponents," said Seu Bock, when contacted.

In the women's doubles, 13th seeds Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean had to dig deep before clearing the second round in the 16-21, 21-17, 22-20 win over Germany's Isabel Herttrich-Carla Nelte. Mei Kuan-Meng Yean take on fifth seeds Greysia Polli-Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia on Thursday.

It was, however, the end of the road for Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei who stood no chance against Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi. The Japanese pair won 21-12, 19-21, 21-12.

In the men's doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik continued to impress when they once again upset World No 11 Lee Jhe Huei-Lee Yang 16-21, 21-18, 21-19 to reach the third round. Aaron-Wooi Yik also defeated the Taiwanese pair in the Thailand Open last month.

Aaron-Wooi Yik play eighth seeds Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark next for a place in Friday's quarter-finals.

Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong lived up to their billing but at the expense of fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, whom they beat 21-16, 21-15 to reach the third round.

The 13th seeds face fourth seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen in the third round.

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