PETALING JAYA: It has been 60 years since a home pair last won the Malaysian Open title in the mixed doubles.
The form of Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in 2024 has raised hopes that the long wait could come to an end in the tournament this time from Jan 7-12 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
The last pair to triumph in the competition were Teh Kew San-Ng Mei Ling in 1965.
In recent times, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying have come the closest to capture the title when they finished runners-up twice in the 2013 and 2016 editions.
Since then, no home pair has reached the final.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei, Soon Huat-Shevon and Pang Ron-Su Yin all received a timely boost when they moved up one rung in the latest world rankings after China’s Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong, who were ranked No. 3, were removed from the rankings list following Siwei’s retirement.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei moved up to a career high No. 5 while independents Soon Huat-Shevon rose to No. 6.
Pang Ron-Su Yin reached No. 20 while another Malaysian pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing moved up to No. 19.
The in-form Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Soon Huat-Shevon could be Malaysia’s best bets to win the home title after both created history in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last month.
Both pairs ensured that Malaysia will have a finalist in the mixed doubles in the prestigious Finals for the first time after they set up an all Malaysian last-four match.
It was the first time that two Malaysian pairs made it into the semi-finals in the tourney.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei then created history again by beating Soon Huat-Shevon and becoming the first Malaysians to reach the mixed doubles final.
The pair then went down fighting to Siwei-Yaqiong in three games in the final.
Meanwhile, Pang Ron-Su Yin also achieved a breakthrough when they made it into the final of the China Masters in November before losing narrowly to China’s world No.1 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping.
In the Malaysian tourney, Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Soon Huat-Shevon are seeded third and fourth respectively only behind Yanzhe-Dongping and their teammates Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto hopes that his charges could go far in the tournament but does not want to put undue pressure on them.
“Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been preparing well for the competition but as usual, it’s not easy to play at home. There will always be high expectations and they need to handle it well,” said Nova.
“I don’t want to talk about winning the title yet as this could put undue pressure on them. I just want them to perform at their best. We also have Pang Ron-Su Yin this time and I hope we can get a good result.
“I want both pairs to be consistent this year. In matches, they could have a good game plan but their character and mentality is also very important to become champions.”
Based on the draw released on Tuesday, Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pang Ron-Su Yin will most likely face each other as early as the second round.
Before that, both pairs should clear their respective opening round hurdles against unseeded Taiwanese pairs.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will play Wu Hsuan-yi-Yang Chu-yun in the first round while Pang Ron-Su Yin will meet Ming Che-lu-Hung En-tzu.
Meanwhile, Soon Huat-Shevon face Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai in their opening match while Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito stand in the way of Kian Meng-Pei Jing.
Another home pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien have a tough first match against Indonesia’s fifth seeds Dejan Ferdinansyah-Gloria Emanuelle.
