File photo of Petaling BC's Man Wei Chong (left) and Chen Tang Jie posing with their coach Yap Kim Hock after winning the Celcom Axiata Malaysia International Youth Under-19 boys doubles title in Terengganu in 2016.
PETALING JAYA: Behind every champion lies a village of support, and for newly crowned world mixed doubles champion Chen Tang Jie, that includes his mother, a passionate club, and a corporate giant.
Tang Jie, who made history with Toh Ee Wei by stunning China’s world No. 2 Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin to lift the country's first ever mixed doubles world title in Paris on Sunday, knows he didn’t walk the journey alone.
The 26-year-old has his mother Grace Chen, Petaling BC, and Senheng to thank for laying the foundation that helped him soar.
Petaling BC managing director Datuk Jack Koh could not hide his pride after witnessing Tang Jie’s finest hour.
"Today, we stand proudly to witness the transformation of ideas from the club that have turned into reality," said Jack.
He reflected on the club’s decision to nurture juniors through their SS Junior Badminton Talent Scholarship programme, launched in 2012 with the backing of Senheng managing director Lim Kim Heng.
"It was Grace (mother) who made the bold call to uproot Tang Jie from Bukit Jalil Sports School and place him under Petaling BC’s wing," said Jack.
Tang Jie received early guidance from national legends Cheah Soon Kit (2012-2014), South Korean Yoo Yong-sung (2014) and Yap Kim Hock (2014-2017) and assisted by coaches Mooi Hing Yao, Arnold Rommy, Lukman Hakim, and Nikhil Chandra.
The others who had contributed were club owner Wong Wei Choy, known as Mr. Lightning, corporate mentor Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai, team manager Lt Col Wong Ah Jit, Selena Lim and Bill Kuan.
Between 2012 and 2017, the club invested over RM12 million, sending players to more than 10 overseas tournaments annually and launching the Malaysia Purple League to give budding shuttlers the competitive edge.
By 2017, Tang Jie and five other Petaling BC products were absorbed into the national team - a vindication of the club’s vision.
Today, with a world title around his neck, Tang Jie’s triumph stands as a testament not just of his grit, but to the collective support from the badminton club that backed him from the start.
