In with a chance: Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow, who are currently ranked 55th in the world, have much to do to close the gap with Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei
PETALING JAYA: If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. And national coach Nova Widianto wants a change in the mixed doubles department and is ready to set the bar high for himself and his players.
The former top Indonesian player and coach is out to push two mixed doubles pairs to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
It looks tough on paper but Nova believes it is not impossible.
He has shown what he is capable of when he successfully guided newbies Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to their first Paris Olympics in less than two years after joining Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as the coach at the end of 2022.
Coach Nova Widianto.
Under Nova, Tang Jie-Ee Wei also enjoyed a creditable outing in their maiden Olympics when they reached the quarter-finals. Last week, they bagged the Korean Open title.
Nova now wants to develop another pair capable of fighting for a spot in the next Olympics in Los Angeles in four years along with Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
But who are next in line?
Nova believes they have potential players and it’s time for these younger ones to snap at the heels of Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
“It’s not easy but I believe two of our mixed pairs can qualify for the next Olympics,” said Nova.
Two pairs from a country need to be ranked in the world’s top eight by the end of the one year Olympic qualifying period for both to make the cut.
“It is much harder to have two representatives from a country in the doubles events compared to the singles where two players need to be in the top 16 to make the cut.
“I believe Tang Jie-Ee Wei will still be able to qualify for the next Olympics while we have some young pairs like Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow, Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, who can fight for a spot too.”
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have both already made their determination to qualify and do better in the next Olympics clear.
Tang Jie will turn 30 in 2028 while Ee Wei will be 28.
The pair reached No. 9 in the world rankings at the end of last year and have maintained their position until now.
Pang Ron-Su Yin, who are currently ranked No. 40 in the world, followed by Hon Jian-Pei Kee (No. 44) and Roy King-Valeree (No. 55) have work to do to close the gap to Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
Meanwhile, independent pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing are much closer to Tang Jie-Ee Wei at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively but are unlikely to fight for spots in the Los Angeles Olympics due to their respective age.
Soon Huat is 34 now while his wife Shevon is 31 and Kian Meng-Pei Jing are 30 and 32 respectively.
