Joyful: All in the family for Malaysian mixed doubles. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei hope teammates Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin can become one of the top pairs in the world just like them.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei underlined their status as the best in the country by knocking out their juniors Pang Ron-Su Yin 21-13, 23-21 in 41 minutes to reach the quarter-finals at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The world No. 4 pair will next take on Hong Kong’s world No. 8 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet for a place in the semi-finals.
Tang Jie took note of the good fight by their younger opponents.
Pang Ron-Su Yin had led 20-16 in the second game before eventually losing out to their experienced opponents.
“Pang Ron-Su Yin have their strong points. I just hope the fans will keep supporting them as all athletes go through ups and downs,” said Tang Jie.
The world No. 21 Pang Ron-Su Yin finished runners-up in the China Masters in 2024 but have struggled for form since then.
“We train together every day and we know when they are struggling and when they are regaining their confidence.”
Ee Wei said: “No one can win all the time. Everyone trains hard and wants to become champions.
“We sure hope Pang Ron-Su Yin can come up. It’s very good if many pairs come up for Malaysia.
“You see China have so many pairs, so we really hope that both pairs can grow stronger together.”
Currently, Tang Jie-Ee Wei and world No. 9 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai are the only Malaysians in the world’s top 20 in the mixed doubles.
In comparison, China have are world No. 1 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping, world No. 2 Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin, Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui (No. 6) and Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi (No. 14) in the top 20.
In the home Open, Tang Jie-Ee Wei are the sole survivors for the country in the mixed doubles after Soon Huat-Shevon lost 9-21, 17-21 to Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai.
Soon Huat said that Shevon was still struggling with after-effects of food poisoning.
“My partner’s condition is not 100%. There were many simple mistakes today (yesterday),” lamented Soon Huat.
“We kept changing tactics, but it still didn’t work. When the shuttle came to her side, she had to keep it steady first before I could find chances to attack and we were always chasing.”
