PETALING JAYA: Replacing a successful partnership is never easy even though it is for a short-term measure.
National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has been trying to fill the void left behind by world champion Toh Ee Wei, who is currently in Australia nursing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The first attempt involved pairing Ee Wei’s partner Chen Tang Jie with Clarissa San.
However, Tang Jie-Clarissa’s best result was a quarter-final finish at the Korean Open during their four tournament appearances together.
Rexy’s latest strategy involves partnering Tang Jie with Cheng Su Yin at the China Masters starting on Tuesday in Shenzhen.
They have a tough debut against China’s world No. 6 pairing of Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui in the first round.
It will be their first warm-up before the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya from Sept 19-Oct 4, where the duo had been given the mandate to shine at Asiad.
"Honestly, we should have given them (Tang Jie and Su Yin) more tournaments together," said Rexy at Academy Badminton Malaysia yesterday.
Rexy attributed the duo’s inability to partner up prior to the Masters due to Su Yin’s usual partner, Jimmy Wong, requiring additional points with her.
"It would have been unfair to Jimmy," he said.
However, with the upcoming looming on the horizon, the time crunch was not lost on Rexy.
"We will focus on further preparing the players for Japan after the China Masters."
"But Su Yin is experienced and we believe that will help the pair adapt quickly."
In her partnership with Jimmy, the 23-year-old Su Yin had previously beaten world No. 1 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China in straight games at the Singapore Open.
She will need to replicate that form in her pairing with Tang Jie at China Masters and ultimately at the Asian Games.
