KUALA LUMPUR: Not every crisis in a doubles partnership should lead to a split. Instead, it can be seen as a challenge that strengthens understanding and chemistry between partners.
Former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying has offered valuable advice, particularly to doubles players currently facing difficulties with their partners.
Former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying.
Liu Ying, who partnered Chan Peng Soon for more than a decade and went on to win a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, stressed the importance of identifying problems and working through them together.
Although she did not mention any names, speculation has been rife that mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are dealing with internal conflicts following their early exit at the All-England last week.
Their first-round loss to Indonesia’s Rehan Kusharjanto-Gloria Widjaja raised concerns, highlighting possible issues between Tang Jie-Ee Wei. To make matters worse, just a week earlier at the Orleans Masters, they suffered another defeat against the same opponents in the quarter-finals.
“One defeat does not mean an opportunity is lost forever. The key lies in identifying the root cause, whether it is a matter of players being out of form, the impact of injuries, a lack of synergy between coaches and players, or poor decision-making at the management level,” said Liu Ying on social media.
For the record, Liu Ying briefly partnered Tang Jie at the end of 2017 and won the India International Challenge in December that year.
Speculation: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei may be dealing with internal conflicts following their early exit at the All-England last week.
This makes her well placed to offer such advice, as she understands the challenges of a doubles partnership and the importance of everyone, including the coaching staff and management, working together to help players reconcile and return to their best form.
“A difficult period is no reason for despair, as an athlete’s career without challenges would be far more concerning. Players must adjust their mindset, regain composure, and rediscover their rhythm.
“Coaches should stand with the players, face the issues together, and find solutions, while management must ensure clear accountability by enforcing discipline when necessary and rewarding achievements when deserved.
“Failure is a shared responsibility. Shifting blame does not foster growth and spreading negativity will only make matters worse,” she added.
