PETALING JAYA: Rumours are rife that independent men’s doubles pair Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin could be headed for a split.
Starsport had previously raised the matter with Ee Yi, but he declined to be interviewed and chose not to comment.
The speculation intensified when Ee Yi on Friday (March 27) posted a message thanking sponsor Li-Ning for its strong support since he and Yew Sin turned independent six years ago.
“A million thanks to Lining.sunlight.my and sportsclick.
“Every step, stride, and victory was made possible by your support. Thank you for investing in my dreams,” said Ee Yi on his social media.
However, it remains unclear whether he will continue with the Chinese brand or switch to a new sponsor.
Ee Yi and Yew Sin have been together for over a decade since they were first paired in 2015.
Their biggest achievement was winning a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships in Huelva, Spain, a year after turning independent.
They were also runners-up at the 2023 Asian Championships in Dubai.
However, in recent times, their performances have been far from encouraging, especially Ee Yi, who had previously been hampered by injury.
Last year alone, 12 of the 17 tournaments they competed in ended as early as the first round.
Their best result was reaching the semi-finals of the Japan Open in July.
Their struggles have continued this year, as they have found it difficult to progress beyond the early rounds since the Malaysian Open in January.
Only at the German Open did Ee Yi-Yew Sin manage to advance to the second round.
