Tang Jie-Yen Wei another mixed doubles stars in the making

Winning moment: Peck Yen Wei (left) and Chen Tang Jie celebrate after clinching the winning point against Indonesia's Andika Ramadiansyah-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso in the mixed doubles final of Celcom Axiata Malaysian International Challenge today. - ART CHEN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles is now the most formidable department in the national badminton set-up.

And it just got even better with the emergence of Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei.

It took just five tournaments for the newly formed pair to win their first title when Tang Jie-Yen Wei emerged victorious in the Celcom Axiata Malaysian International Challenge yesterday.

They came from behind to beat Indonesia’s Andika Ramadiansyah-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso 12-21, 23-21, 21-13.

Tang Jie and Yen Wei, paired up in January, also reached the semi-finals of the Thailand Masters.

It’s certainly a further boost to the mixed doubles deparment, who already boast the likes of Shevon Lai-Goh Soon Huat, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.

The 20-year-old Tang Jie insists this victory is just the beginning.

“This title is a boost to our confidence,” said Tang Jie, who previously tasted success with Liu Ying at last year’s Indian International.

“But as far as we are concerned, this is just the start. We’re not going to rest on our laurels by just winning the IC-level tournaments.

“After this, we need to work even harder to win bigger tournaments in the future.”

Yen Wei, 22, echoed Tang Jie’s sentiment by saying their combination is still a work in progress.

“I do hope our partnership will remain as we continue to build on it.

“We made a good pair as both of us have our strong points and complement each other really well.

“But our partnership is still new and we need more time to flourish. We’re still nowhere near the level of our seniors yet.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s hopes of emulating the 1998 clean sweep of all five titles failed to materialise.

Women’s doubles pair Tee Jing Yi-Soong Fie Cho were the only other Malaysian winner. They beat Lim Chiew Sien-Tan Sueh Jeou 21-13, 21-10 in an all-Malaysian affair.

Tan Jia Wei, Lee Ying Ying and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik failed to thrill the home crowd any further in the men’s singles, women’s singles and men’s doubles finals respectively.

FINAL RESULTS

(Malaysian unless stated)

Men's singles: Hsueh Hsuan-yi (Tpe) bt Tan Jia Wei 21-18, 21-19.

Men's doubles: Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan (Ina) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-17,17-21, 21-19.

Women's singles: Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt Lee Ying Ying 21-10, 22-24, 21-14.

Women's doubles: Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi bt Lim Chiew Sien-Tan Sueh Jeou 21-13, 21-10.

Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei bt Andika Ramadiansyah-Mychelle Crhystine Bandaso (Ina) 12-21, 23-21, 21-13.