KUALA LUMPUR – Toh Ee Wei is set to play in front of her family for the first time at the Paris Olympic Games, with her mother and sister arriving in the French capital tomorrow.
The national mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie and Ee Wei kicked off their Olympic campaign impressively today by defeating Singapore’s Terry Hee Yong Kai and Jessica Tan Wei Han.
Reflecting on their performance in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Ee Wei shared her excitement and discussed their game strategy.
“It was a roller coaster match in the first game. Before the game started, we talked about how to control our emotions on the court and looking at how we played just now, it worked,” she said.
Tang Jie and Ee Wei, who have been partnered since November 2022, have made significant progress since then, breaking into the world’s top 10 rankings.
Ee Wei expressed her determination to perform well, especially with her family watching.
“My mother and sister will be here tomorrow.
“We will play like we have got nothing to lose and just focus on the match,” she added.
Tang Jie emphasised the unique atmosphere of the Olympics and the motivational impact of the sold-out stadium.
“It has not usually been so many people at every badminton tournament opening match, but this is the Olympics. The sold-out seats gave us motivation and positivity,” he said.
The ninth-ranked duo overcame a challenging start to secure a 23-21, 21-12 victory, earning the first point in their Group D match at Arena Porte de La Chapelle.
Their next challenge comes against the American pair of Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai tomorrow, followed by a clash with reigning Asian champions Feng Yang Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China on Monday.
In an earlier match, Feng Yang Zhe and Huang Dong Ping, ranked second in the world, demonstrated their dominance by defeating the American pair 21-11, 21-14.
Only the top two pairs from the group stage will advance to the quarterfinals, making every match crucial for Tang Jie and Ee Wei as they aim to continue their winning momentum. – July 27, 2024