Positive vibe: Chen Tang Jie (front) and Toh Ee Wei are eyeing for a strong finish this season.
PETALING JAYA: For mixed doubles shuttler Toh Ee Wei, two things have always moved in tandem – relentless hard work and an unbreakable will to fight through any storm.
That same spirit has carried her and partner Chen Tang Jie through a roller-coaster season and into what has become a memorable 2025.
The pair are determined to make the year even more meaningful as they gear up for the SEA Games in Thailand followed by the prestigious World Tour Finals in China next month. Their Australian Open victory on Sunday was especially sweet, coming almost three months after they became Malaysia’s first mixed pair to win a world title in Paris in August.
Ee Wei believes it is their ability to confront challenges head-on that has strengthened their partnership.
“At the start of the year, we couldn’t make it into any Open finals, and it was really tough – we suffered a lot,” said Ee Wei.
The struggles even saw them split briefly before reuniting with a renewed commitment to stick together, whether in triumph or defeat.
“Winning our first World Tour title this year is truly special, and we are very grateful,” she said.
“One thing I’ve learnt is to work hard and never give up. As you know, my journey has never been easy. I was diagnosed with TB and had a nose operation along the way.
“These challenges taught me resilience and the importance of staying focused. No matter the obstacles, I’ve learned to keep pushing forward and give my best every time I step on the court.”
But Ee Wei knows that growth never stops.
“There’s still so much for us to learn. We aim to keep improving, being consistent in our performance and focus on what we need to do,” she said.
“We will give our best in every game and match we play, no matter the outcome. Win or lose, we will always put in our full effort on the court.”
The world champions will be joined by fellow Malaysians Goh Soon Huat–Shevon Lai at the World Tour Finals.
Their main threats include Thailand’s top-ranked pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran and China’s heavyweight duos Feng Yanzhe-Huang Yaqiong and Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
Only the top eight players in their respective events get to play in the Finals.
Malaysia will also be represented by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the men’s doubles, while Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have qualified as the top-ranked women’s pair and will be the top seeds in the season finale.
(Top five only)
Men’s singles: 1. Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha), 2. Li Shifeng (Chn), 3. Chou Tien-chen (Tpe), 4. Anders Antonsen (Den), 5. Christo Popov (Fra).
Men’s doubles: 1. Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor), 2. Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas), 3. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (Mas), 4. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty (Ind), 5. Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn).
Women’s singles: 1. An Se-young (Kor), 2. Wang Zhiyi (Chn), 3. Han Yue (Chn), 4. Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), 5. Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha).
Women’s doubles: 1. Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (Mas); 2. Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor), 3. Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn), 4. Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian (Chn), 5. Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn).
Mixed doubles: 1. Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran (Tha), 2. Feng Yanzhe-Huang Yaqiong (Chn), 3. Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn), 4. Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Mas), 5. Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (Mas).
(Note - The complete list of top eight players in each category will be released today, taking into account points from recent tournaments)
