KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s top mixed doubles duo, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, are on the right track for a podium finish at the Paris Olympics.
However, the world number nine pairing does not want to get carried away just yet.
Playing in their first Olympics, they surprised everyone at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena today by upsetting world number two Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China in three games: 17-21, 21-15, 21-16, to top Group D.
With two earlier wins against Singapore’s Terry Hee and Jessica Tan on Saturday and the United States’ Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai on Sunday, Tang Jie and Ee Wei had already secured their quarter-finals berth.
Speaking to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) after today’s stunning victory, Tang Jie and Ee Wei opened up about how they played with one heart and mind to oust the Chinese favourites.
“The match against the Chinese pair was never going to be easy. We knew this coming in because they are a top pair.
“But we fought hard today and played with one heart and mind, unlike our previous encounters where we failed to control our emotions.
“For this, we sought the help of the mental health officer (Lim Jin Xuan) of the contingent at the Games Village,” said Ee Wei.
On what to expect in the quarter-finals now that they’ve won the group, Ee Wei added: “We will first use the time we have to rest well.
“This is the Olympics, and anything can happen. The group stages were hard enough, so I don’t think anything will be easy after this.”
As group winners, Tang Jie and Ee Wei will avoid playing other group toppers. The Malaysians will also not play China’s Yan Zhe and Dong Ping in the quarters.
For the record, Tang Jie and Ee Wei are the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to clear the group stages since Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying went all the way to win silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Peng Soon and Liu Ying remain the only Malaysian mixed doubles pair to finish with a medal at the Olympics. – July 29, 2024