KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 ― Independent women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei is full of joy to be able to rub shoulders against the world’s best in a Super 1000 level tournament, after last seeing such action in 2018.

The 22-year-old, who is ranked 33rd in the world, said she had nothing to lose playing against higher ranked players in the ongoing Malaysia Open and therefore wanted to ensure she is able to present her best performance in front of home fans at Axiata Arena, here.

“I enjoyed the speed and challenge, even though the match was early in the morning. After a year break (because of surgery) I only went to a lot of small tournaments and not much attention in Europe, it feels very good (to play in a major event in home country).

“It very hard to upset them (top 10 players), they are consistent in performance and that's what I aim to be, consistent,” she said.

The 2017 SEA Games champion had earlier ousted Germany’s Yvonne Li 21-11, 21-18 in 39 minutes in the first round.

She is set to face second seed An Se Young of South Korea, who beat Malvika Bansod of India 21-9, 21-13, in the second round tomorrow.

In October 2019, Jin Wei underwent a colectomy surgery, a procedure to remove all or part of the colon. ― Bernama