Gigantic breakthrough: Toh Ee Wei embracing coaches Nova Widianto and Rexy Mainaky as Chen Tang Jie celebrates their win in Paris. - AFP
PETALING JAYA: Several new experimental pairings will feature in the mixed doubles event at the Korea Masters in Jeonbuk, which gets underway on Nov 4.
One of the most notable combinations will see world junior runner-up Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan teaming up with Loo Bing Kun.
Chan Wen Tse will partner Low Han Chen, while Wen Tse’s former partner, Wee Yee Hern, will join forces with Vanee Gobi.
For the record, Wen Tse previously partnered Han Chen briefly two years ago during the mixed team event at the World Junior Championships in Spokane, the United States.
National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto said the reshuffled partnerships are aimed not only at testing the players’ chemistry with new partners but also at identifying future combinations who can follow in the footsteps of top pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin.
Noraqilah, who has been touted as one of Malaysia’s brightest young prospects after winning two medals at the recent World Junior Championships in India, is expected to gain valuable experience alongside the more seasoned Bing Kun, who previously partnered Ee Wei in several tournaments this year before switching to Go Pei Kee.
“We see Noraqilah as a player with strong talent and potential, and her recent results have been encouraging. So we want to give her more exposure by entering her in a few tournaments," said Nova.
“At the moment, we don’t have many senior women players in the mixed doubles set-up, so we’re trying out new pairings. Noraqilah has done well in both women’s and mixed doubles, so this is a good opportunity for her to move up to the next level.
“Bing Kun, on the other hand, is an experienced player who has had several partners before and shown good individual quality. He’s also one of the most consistent performers in training, so I want to give him this chance.''
In Jeonbuk, Yee Hern-Vanee will face home pair An Yun-seong-Lee Yu-lim in the first round, while Han Chen-Wen Tse will take on Geon Hui-kang-Lee Hye-won. Bing Kun-Noraqilah, meanwhile, will face a tough test against fifth seeds Chen Zhi Yi-Francesca Corbett of the United States.
“Perhaps for now, these pairs will serve as back-ups as the others are still quite young. For instance, I’ve reunited Yee Hern and Vanee as my previous experiment with Wen Tse did not work out as well as expected. Eventually, I decided to pair Han Chen with Wen Tse instead.
“I’m hoping these three pairs can serve as our back-up options and help fill the current gap. I feel there’s still a level or two of difference to make up, but for the time being, these three combinations can bridge that gap,” added Nova.
Also competing are professional pair Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing, who will face Germany’s Calvin Devereux-Desiree Toepffer.
