Happy families: (From left) Chen Tang Jie’s grandmother Then Ah Yin, Chen Tang Jie, father Chen Yuan Gui, Toh Ee Wei, Tang Jie’s mother Grace Chen, Ee Wei’s sister Toh Ee Ching, Ee Wei’s mother Jane Yeo and father Toh Kok Leong. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
SEPANG: From tears of defeat to tears of glory – Chen Tang Jie’s journey has come full circle.
The 27-year-old mixed doubles shuttler, once known for breaking down after losses as a junior, now cries only for the sweetest of reasons – victory.
On Sunday in Paris, Tang Jie and partner Toh Ee Wei etched their names in history by capturing Malaysia’s first-ever mixed doubles gold at the World Championships, defeating China’s Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin in the final.
“Tang Jie used to cry whenever he lost matches when he was younger. Now, he only cries happy tears,” said his mother Grace Chen, who was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday to welcome her son home.
“We felt very happy and excited when we saw him win the world title. To become a champion is never easy. He’s had to overcome various obstacles to get here.”
Tang Jie struggled with various partners before finally clicking with Ee Wei when they were paired at the end of 2022.
Grace said she has been there for her son to give her full support especially during trying times.
“Sometimes he shares with me his struggles. I told him he is an adult now. He needs to handle these on his own. Sometimes, if he’s stuck, I will motivate him,” said Grace.
“Whenever he leaves for tournaments, I will give him a hug and wish him all the best.”
For Ee Wei, the triumph was equally emotional. Her mother Jane Yeo recalled how special it felt to see her daughter on the top step of the podium on National Day.
“We were so emotional when we heard ‘Negaraku’ being played,” said Jane.
“We never expected her to come this far, but Ee Wei is incredibly strong, determined, and hardworking. She deserves this. Her hard work has finally paid off.”
Ee Wei’s father Toh Kok Leong wants his daughter to continue chasing titles.
“It’s good that she and Tang Jie won the gold and came back without any injuries,” said Kok Leong.
“Her journey is still ongoing. We hope she can get more titles for Malaysia.”
Tang Jie-Ee Wei and women’s doubles duo Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah’s families were joined by fans and officials as the two pairs received a heroes’ welcome at KLIA.
Pearly-Thinaah also created history for the country after winning silver in Paris.
The pair are the first Malaysians to win a medal in the women’s doubles in the world meet.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president V. Subramaniam were among those who greeted the two pairs.
Fans made it a celebratory atmosphere, shouting ‘Malaysia Boleh’ and ‘Merdeka’ as the players arrived.
