Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bowed out of the French Open after losing to Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet in the last eight following a shoulder injury to Tang Jie.
The reigning world champions could not raise their game this time and went down 9-21, 18-21 at the Glaz Arena in Cesson Sevigne on Friday (Oct 24).
Tang Jie seemed to be struggling with a right shoulder injury in the first game and received treatment during the interval.
The 27-year-old soldiered on in the second game and put up a better fight along with Ee Wei but could not prevent themselves from losing.
Said Tang Jie in a post Badminton World Federation (BWF) interview: "I'm not in my best condition and this had made the situation for us tougher."
"Before entering the court, I could not lift up my hand but I played on, so there are no excuses for the defeat.
"This is the situation that I need to accept.
"I felt I needed to try my maximum effort. I felt sorry for my partner. We wanted to win. It's frustrating for her as well."
It was Tang Jie-Ee Wei's maiden defeat to world No. 8 Chun Man-Ying Suet after coming out on top in both their previous meetings.
It is the world No. 3's first loss in the quarter-final stage since capturing the world crown in Paris in August.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei finished runners-up in the China Masters last month and made it into the last four in the Denmark Open last week.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's challenge in the mixed doubles came to an end after world No. 9 independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie also lost 18-21, 16-21 to China's world No. 2 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping.
