Tang Jie cherishes partnership with Ee Wei but will accept coach’s decision
PETALING JAYA: Top mixed doubles shuttler Chen Tang Jie has never contemplated splitting up with his partner Toh Ee Wei, but he is open to any decision made by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Coach Nova Widianto had served Tang Jie-Ee Wei an ultimatum, either mend their partnership and deliver strong performances at the Sudirman Cup at the end of next month or risk being split up for the Taiwan Open and Thailand Open in May.
The world No. 4 pair had been struggling with internal conflicts following disappointing early exits at the Orleans Masters and All-England.
Despite the setback, Tang Jie chose not to dwell on the matter and instead placed his trust in the coaching team.
“I haven’t thought much about it (to split). We believe in our coaches and whatever decision they make is for the best,” he said after a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia yesterday.
“For me, I appreciate my previous partnership and I am grateful for what Ee Wei and I have accomplished together. But I’m ready for whatever comes next,” he added.
At the moment, Tang Jie is following the instructions of Nova and continuing training as usual despite the tense situation between him and Ee Wei.
“Coach Nova and Rexy (Mainaky) have told me to focus on myself first and I accept their advice as they have far more experience.
“So, I’m staying committed to my training and keep doing what I love (badminton),” he added.
Before his partnership with Ee Wei, Tang Jie He played in men’s doubles with Peck Yen Wei and Man Wei Chong but struggled to find long-term success.
His partnership with Ee Wei was different, as they clicked well on court and achieved major milestones together, including reaching a career-high world No. 3 ranking.
Tang Jie also acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on the upcoming Asian Championships in Ningbo, China, on April 8.
“It’s unfortunate that we won’t be competing in the Asian Championships, as it’s a prestigious tournament where we could have represented the country and possibly fought for a medal.
“But we understand that our performances at the Orleans Masters and All-England were not up to expectations, so we accept the decision,” he said.
