Jaimelee Goh
She once played the role of Fiona in her school drama adaptation of Shrek. Like the fictional character, Jamielee Goh Wei Rou wants to break norms and excel in a sports that she only took up two years ago.
For starters, Jamieilee, seeded seventh in Week 1 of the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex, will be looking to go one better in Week Two starting tomorrow.
She was beaten in the second round but is taking the defeat in her stride.
“I am still nursing a knee injury but it is getting better. I am especially happy with my performance in the classification match against the Bangladeshi player,” said Jamielee.
She was down 1-5 in the first game but upped her game to walk away victorious against Mastora Arfin, winning 5-7, 6-4, 10-5.
While, she has yet to win a title in the singles, last November, the Year 8 Jerudong International School student, was a doubles runner-up with Singaporean Kayanne Lim at the ATF Under-14 tournament in Brunei.
Jamielee has also chosen to put her interest in music – piano, guitar and singing – to put her full concentration in tennis.
She was in fact a silver medalist in violin performance at the Euroasia Youth Music Festival last year.
“I am full time into tennis and working towards a career in it,”said Janielee, whose uncle Wu Chun, ironically, is a famous Bruneian singer, actor and a former Brunei basketball player.
Her uncle was a founding member of Fahrenheit and was a member of Taiwanese Mandopop quartert and has appeared in numerous Taiwanese television series.
“The plan is to play well enough to get a scholarship and play at the Collegiate level,” said the 13-year-old, who hails from Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei.
With her travels overseas expected to increase as she pursues tennis, she is also looking at an option to attend hybrid or home study.
In Phnom Penh, she is fully supported by her parents, who had accompanied her to ensure that her needs are taken care of.
Jaimelee, who idolized the legendary Maria Sharapova is coached by Billy Wong.
Last year at the same tournament in Sri Lanka, she was looking to gain experience and this year she is determined to benchmark her improvements against her peers.
It may be a long and arduous road ahead, but like the determined Fiona, Jaimelee is on the road to blossom, into a player she intends to be.
