Mixed doubles shuttler makes painful decision after recent misfortunes

Best achievement: Peck Yen Wei’s (front) best memory with Chen Tang Jie was winning the SEA Games gold medal in Vietnam in May.

PETALING JAYA: The break-up with long-time partner Chen Tang Jie and an untimely ankle injury has forced mixed doubles specialist Peck Yen Wei to quit the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

The 26-year-old from Kuala Lumpur, who has been with BAM for more than a decade, handed her resignation letter to high performance director Dr Tim Jones last week.

National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said Yen Wei’s decision did not come as a surprise.

“The injury during training last month happened at the wrong time as we were in the midst of finding a suitable partner for her. And Yen Wei did tell me that she may look to do other things after we split her partnership with Tang Jie,” said Rexy.

“Anyway, they were given several chances to prove themselves but the results were not forthcoming and that’s when we were looking at pairing them up with different partners.”

Yen Wei, meanwhile, expressed her gratitude to BAM and their coaches.

“It’s definitely a mixed feeling to leave BAM. I would like to thank everyone who have supported and cheered for me every single match,” Yen Wei posted in her Instagram account.

“Goodbye is not forever. It is a fond farewell and wishes for a wonderful future ahead.”

Tang Jie will now team up with Yap Ling and their first tournament together will be at the Australia Open from Nov 15-20.

Tang Jie, who won the mixed doubles gold with Yen Wei at the Hanoi SEA Games in May, said their journey was good while it lasted.

“We’ve been playing together for four years now and our sweetest memory is the SEA Games gold.

“Yen Wei said she wanted to take a break and try out something else besides badminton. I’m going to miss her,” said Tang Jie.

“After the SEA Games, I partnered Valeree (Siow) for a while before Yen Wei and I asked BAM for another shot together and we played in Japan.

“Although we played well, we did not achieve the desired results and the split was inevitable. Life has to go on.”

Yen Wei has joined Chan Peng Soon’s academy (CPC Badminton Academy) in Petaling Jaya as their coach.