KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, admitted that it has been challenging to readjust for the Japan Open after concluding their campaign at the Paris Olympics, which ended on August 11.
The seventh-seeded pair successfully advanced to the second round after defeating the Chinese Taipei duo, Liu Kuang Heng and Jheng Yu Chieh, with a score of 21-19, 21-14 in 31 minutes today.
They will face Denmark’s pair, Christine Busch and Mads Vestergaard, in the second round.
The last encounter between them was at the French Open last year, where Tang Jie and Ee Wei emerged victorious.
Despite the win, Tang Jie and Ee Wei acknowledge that their quarter-final defeat at the Paris Olympics two weeks ago is still impacting them.
“Shifting from the Olympic mood to the World Tour is quite difficult because the Olympics was the pinnacle of our achievement.
“I feel like we are trying to find our rhythm on the court, making this a new start. We’re not overthinking it, just focusing on improving our game.
“Experiencing the pain of not making it to the semifinals has been tough, but it’s what motivates us to improve our game for the remaining World Tour events,” said Tang Jie in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
At the same time, Tang Jie and Ee Wei believe that they need to start their preparations for Los Angeles 2028 now if they want to be medal contenders.
“As for the Olympics, we need to be better prepared, not just relying on passion and playstyle. What truly matters is how we prepare in the four years leading up to the Olympics. It’s not just about qualifying and showing up to play.
“Looking ahead to LA 2028, we need to manage our training and take care of ourselves. Those are some of the key things we need to focus on,” he added.
This year, they have yet to secure a championship title, falling short twice in the finals and settling for runner-up positions at both the Thailand Masters and the Swiss Open. – August 21, 2024