KUALA LUMPUR: “I’m not Seo Seung-jae, I’m just Chen Tang Jie.”
That was the honest admission by national shuttler Chen Tang Jie (pic), who hopes not to be compared to the South Korean ace despite now juggling dual responsibilities in both the mixed and men’s doubles just like Seung-jae.
“If you ask me, yes, I am impressed with him. He is an excellent all-round shuttler. But I am still far behind ... I just hope that I can be just like him one day,” said Tang Jie, 27.
After parting ways with his former mixed doubles partner Toh Ee Wei, Tang Jie is now set to team up with Chan Wen Tse in the mixed event, while also taking on a new role in the men’s doubles alongside Wong Vin Sean.
Although Tang Jie has no long-term plans to stay in the men’s doubles, he is approaching his new partnership with Vin Sean with full commitment and is eager to learn under the guidance of men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
For Tang Jie, this new chapter feels like starting from scratch, which is why he believes it’s unfair to compare him to the South Koreans who made history by winning double titles at the 2023 World Championships.
“I just want to learn, and I’m stepping into men’s doubles with that mindset. It’s not about proving I can play in two events, but more about gaining experience that can help my career. That’s why I asked for coach Herry Ip’s permission,” said Tang Jie.
“I still see myself as a rookie, not a senior player. More than anything, I just hope I don’t make things difficult for my partners.
To kick off their partnership, Tang Jie and Vin Sean will compete at the Taiwan Open (6-11 May), followed by the Thailand Open (13-18 May).
While this marks a fresh chapter for Tang Jie in men’s doubles, it’s far from his first experience in the event. Over the years, he has teamed up with several partners, including Chan Peng Soon, Goh Soon Huat, and Man Wei Chong, before focusing primarily on mixed doubles. Notably, he reached the finals of both the Malaysia International Challenge and the Waikato International Series in 2017 alongside Soh Wooi Yik.
With those past experiences in mind, Tang Jie is optimistic about his new partnership with Vin Sean, hoping it will deliver strong results. However, he remains uncertain about how long they will stay together as a pair.
“I spoke to Vin Sean and asked if he was nervous about partnering me, but he said he wasn’t.
“I think we can communicate well, like friends. I told him, ‘I’ll partner with you. We don’t know what the future holds, but I’m going to take this partnership seriously.
“I really hope we can work well together. This isn’t a senior-junior situation, I want him to feel comfortable and confident with this pairing,” he added.
