PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei still have a chance of qualifying for the prestigious World Tour Finals from Dec 11-15 in Hangzhou despite being ruled out of the back-to-back Arctic Open (Oct 8-13) and Denmark Open (Dec 15-20).
Ee Wei suffered a gash in her left hand on Tuesday after falling onto a glass panel in the gym at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) and required 16 stitches.
On top of that, the 24-year-old also picked up a grade two muscle tear in her back.
Meanwhile, Tang Jie is recovering from a left knee strain which he picked up last week at the China Open.
Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto is hopeful that the pair can make a speedy recovery and qualify for the Tour Finals.
Currently, Tang Jie-Ee Wei are in a good position to make the cut as they are second in the Race to Hangzhou rankings only behind China’s Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
The pairs that remain in the top eight after all the World Tour competitions this year before the Tour Finals end, will qualify.Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been one of the most consistent performers in the World Tour this year.
The pair captured the Korean Open last month and finished runners-up in the Thailand Masters in January and Swiss Open in March.
The other Malaysian pairs currently in the top eight in the Race to Hangzhou rankings are Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (No. 3) and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (No. 5).
Only two pairs from a country can qualify and Kian Meng-Pei Jing, who have 63,990 points, face a tough task to overhaul Tang Jie-Ee Wei (76,280) and Soon Huat-Shevon (73,610).
“Ee Wei has been given two weeks to recover. The pair are still in the top five and have a good chance of qualifying,” said Nova.
“Many of the top-eight pairs are relatively new and haven’t been performing consistently, so I’m confident Tang Jie-Ee Wei still have a good shot.
“Tang Jie was due to return to training on Wednesday, but Ee Wei’s injury has delayed that. Luckily, she’s right-handed.”
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will likely return in the Japan Masters (Nov 12-17) or China Masters (Nov 19-24).
