KUALA LUMPUR: National women's singles coach Rony Agustinus believes Goh Jin Wei needs to learn to manage high-pressure situations better if she is to let her prodigious talent shine at the ongoing World Junior Championships in Yogyakarta.
Rony said Jin Wei, who won the gold at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August, feels more pressure competing in junior competitions, despite having already made her mark at the senior level.
This was visible in the mixed team final yesterday, which saw the former world junior champion slumping to a 21-16, 20-22, 21-18 loss to China's Han Yue. China defeated Malaysia 3-1 in the final.
"It (competing in junior competition) is quite difficult for her. There is no pressure competing at the senior level, as there are no expectations on her, but it is the opposite here.
"I hope she is able to be smarter and learn to manage the pressure when she competes in the individual (girls’ singles) competition here.
"She needs to remain calm, focused and plan out her strategy well.
"I am not going to add any pressure by saying that she needs to win this competition. What I do want to see is Jin Wei playing to her full potential," said Rony.
Jin Wei, who lost in the fifth round of the singles event last year, will open her account against South African Megan De Beer in the second round tomorrow. She has been given a first round bye.
The 17-year-old has a relatively easy draw until the semi-finals, where she will likely meet Han Yue again, or second seeded Yeo Jia Min of Singapore.
Translated from Berita Harian