PETALING JAYA, Nov 17 — Goh Jin Wei had mixed feeling after becoming the country's first female world junior badminton champion in Lima, Peru, on Sunday.

While delighted to have created history, she was sad it came at the expense of teammate and good friend Lee Ying Ying whom she defeated 21-15, 21-16 in the final.

“I am filled with joy. My efforts have paid off, but this is not the end as I want to keep working hard,” said Goh, who only took 35 minutes to clinch the title.

“It was not an easy final as we know each other’s game well and are good friends.” 

Goh also thanked her father Goh Boon Huat, mother Loh Bee Sim and elder sister Goh Jin Mei.

BA of Malaysia (BAM) development manager Kwan Yoke Meng said Lee’s frayed nerves also played a part.

“Lee was nervous but congratulations to Goh, she deserved the victory,” he said of the pint-sized prodigy.

Goh, who like former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei hails from Bukit Mertajam, even trained under Lee’s former coach Teh Peng Huat before moving to Kuala Lumpur last year.

Since being included into the national setup from the Penang Badminton Association this year, the 15-year-old’s progress has been rapid.

She was included into the senior's team programme and the results have been extraordinary.

The Penangite made history by becoming the youngest shuttler to win a local Open title when won the KL Open in February, before going on to clinch bronze at the SEA Games and Asian Junior Championships in June and July respectively.

The soft-spoken shuttler continued to make big strides by winning her first senior titles at the Belgian International Challenge in September and Vietnam International Series in October..

National women singles coach Wong Tat Meng basked in the delight of boasting a first girls’ world junior champion.

“We have waited a long time for this. Two years ago we started a programme which had the juniors train with the seniors and today it has paid off. Now the challenge would be for her to have a smooth transition to senior level. We must be careful not to burn her out,” said Wong.

Goh’s triumph ended a four-year drought for a world junior title.

Malaysia last returned with two titles in 2011 through Zulfadli Zulkiffli in the boy’s singles and Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi in the boy’s doubles.