PETALING JAYA: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei face a tough opening hurdle in the Thailand Open, which starts today in Bangkok.
The national mixed doubles pair are up against recent Malaysian Masters runners-up and world No. 8 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are out to bounce back after losing 20-22, 21-11, 15-21 to Indonesia’s world No. 14 Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas in the first round in the home tourney.
But the pair need to be on their toes against Yanzhe-Dongping, who seem to have rediscovered their best form after suffering first-round exits in the All-England in March and Asian Championships last month.
The Chinese pair were only paired together in January but made a great start by capturing the Indonesian and Thailand Masters (January) and German Open titles prior to the All-England.
World No. 20 Tang Jie-Ee Wei have never played against the newly combined pair but lost out to Dongping and her previous partner Wang Yilyu 21-23, 12-21 in the Indian Open in January.
Dongping had captured the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold with Yilyu but the duo had split up following the latter’s waist injury.
On their preparations for the Thailand Open, Ee Wei said: “Physically, everything is good for us.
“It’s important for us to stay focused on court to do well.”
Meanwhile, the other Malaysians in the fray will be Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing and independent pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See.
Pang Ron-Mei Xing will be the only pair starting from the qualifying rounds and will face Indonesia’s Adnan Maulana-Nita Violina.
Soon Huat-Shevon will open their campaign against Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee-Ng Tsz Yau while Kian Meng-Pei Jing will play Taiwan’s Ye Hong-wei-Lee Chia-hsin.
Peng Soon-Yee See will meet Singapore’s Terry Hee-Jessica Tan.
