BANGKOK: Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei etched her name into the history books after securing a place in the women’s singles final of the 2026 Thailand Masters with a hard-fought semi-final victory on Saturday.
In an all-Malaysian showdown at Nimibutr Stadium, Jin Wei outlasted compatriot Wong Ling Ching in a gripping three-game battle, prevailing 17-21, 21-17, 21-16 after 57 minutes of intense action.
Watch highlights of the semi-final clash below:
Goh Jin Wei started cautiously and struggled to find her rhythm in the opening game, allowing the more aggressive Wong Ling Ching to take the first set 21-17.
However, the world number 68 responded with composure and sharper court coverage in the second game, tightening her defense and improving her shot selection to level the match at 21-17.
The deciding set saw both players trading points in a tense encounter. Wong Ling Ching, ranked 43rd in the world, fought back to close the gap after Goh Jin Wei opened up an early lead, but the latter’s experience and mental resilience proved decisive as she pulled away to seal the match.
The victory sends Goh Jin Wei into Sunday’s final, where she will face India’s Devika Sihag. Sihag booked her place in the championship match after defeating Taiwan’s fifth seed Huang Yu-Hsun 22-20, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
Goh Jin Wei’s appearance in the final marks a historic achievement, as she becomes the first Malaysian women’s singles player to reach the Thailand Masters final since the Super 300 tournament was introduced in 2016.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul continued his strong run in men’s singles, advancing to a second consecutive final after dispatching China’s Zhu Xuan Chen 21-14, 21-11.
In the other semi-final, Indonesia’s Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah denied compatriot and second seed Alwi Farhan a back-to-back final appearance, winning 21-18, 21-14.
The men’s doubles and mixed doubles finals are set to be all-Indonesian affairs, guaranteeing the host nation at least two titles.
Top seeds Leo Rolly Carnando–Bagas Maulana advanced to the men’s doubles final after defeating fellow Indonesians Muhammad Rian Ardianto–Rahmat Hidayat. They will meet second seeds Raymond Indra–Nikolaus Joaquin, who eliminated China’s Hu Ke Yuan–Lin Xiang Yi.
In mixed doubles, sixth seeds Adnan Maulana–Indah Cahya Sari Jamil overcame Japan’s Akira Koga–Natsu Saito 29-27, 21-16 to book a final clash against Indonesian veterans Bobby Setiabudi–Melati Daeva Oktavianti.
The women’s doubles final will feature China’s Bao Li Jing–Li Yi Jing against Indonesia’s Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi–Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
