KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s top mixed doubles duo, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, have always prioritised professionalism, even if it means making life tough for their compatriots on court.
That professionalism was on full display today as the world number eight pair edged independents Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai 14-21, 21-10, 21-14 in their opening Group B match at the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
The win moves Tang Jie and Ee Wei a step closer to the semi-finals of the prestigious US$2.5 million (RM11,082,500) season-ending finale. Only the top two pairs from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Speaking to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) after the match, Tang Jie admitted that facing fellow Malaysians can be tricky, but their focus was clear — to make life difficult for their opponents.
“Our strategy today was to make them struggle,” said Tang Jie.
“For that to work, Ee Wei and I need to have complete trust in each other. If my quality drops, she steps up, and if she’s under pressure, I’ll cover for her.
“We’re the kind of pair that keeps things very straightforward. If we know we’re playing compatriots the next day, we don’t talk to them beforehand. We focus on our own preparation. Once the match is over, we’re friends again. It’s all about staying professional,” he explained.
The approach clearly worked, as the pair look ahead to their next match tomorrow against Indonesia’s Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja.
A win would guarantee the Malaysians a place in the final four. Their last group match on Friday will see them take on Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito.
Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles, Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah gave a valiant effort but fell short in their opening Group A match.
The pair went down 13-21, 21-17, 21-18 to Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in what has been dubbed the ‘group of death’.
Pearly and Thinaah will now face India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela tomorrow, needing a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. — December 11, 2024