PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei need to adopt the champions’ mentality to win the biggest titles.
Mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto believes his charges are lacking mental toughness and grit needed to overcome obstacles and win matches in the big tournaments.
World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been stopped five times in the semi-finals this year and have yet to reach a final since finishing runners-up in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December.
The pair’s best result in their careers so far was the second place finish in the Tour Finals while their biggest title was the World Tour Super 500 Korean Open last August.
With the World Championships fast approaching from Aug 25-31 in Paris, Nova wants Tang Jie-Ee Wei to toughen up and find ways to win even when they are not in their best form.
“The top pairs are not always at their best but they still find ways to win and Tang Jie-Ee Wei need to learn to overcome challenges in matches too,” said Nova, after overseeing a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
“Currently, they are not tough enough to overcome the obstacles. They are lacking the champions’ mentality and this is holding them back in the big tournaments.
“This is reflected in their results this year. Their performances have dropped compared to the last two years.
“We are trying to find ways to help them overcome this issue by giving them a challenging environment in training. If they can come up with solutions during training, then surely they can do better in tournaments.”
Nova has called on Tang Jie-Ee Wei to re-ignite their season by winning a medal in the world meet.
It has been 19 years since Malaysia last won a medal in the mixed doubles in the tournament and the Indonesian wants the pair to end the country’s long wait.
Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty, who won bronze in the 2006 edition in Madrid, are still Malaysia’s sole medallists in the mixed doubles in the world meet so far.
Nova feels Tang Jie-Ee Wei have a genuine chance this time as they will be seeded fourth in the tourney and will avoid the likes of China’s top two seeds Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping and Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin as well as Thailand’s third seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran at least until the semi-finals.
“Looking at Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s seeding, they should at least reach the semi-finals and win a medal,” said Nova.
“Luck has not been good for Malaysia in the mixed doubles in the World Championships for so long and hopefully this time we can deliver better results.”
The much anticipated draw for the prestigious event will be released today.
