KUALA LUMPUR: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will look to crown their roller-coaster journey with the biggest prize of all when they face China‘s Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin in the World Championships mixed doubles final in Paris today.
The world No. 4 will need to scale a formidable Great Wall in the form of the Chinese second seeds, who have been a thorn in their side of late.
Since their rivalry began two years ago, Tang Jie-Ee Wei trail 3-1, with their sole win coming at the Orleans Masters in March 2023.
But the Malaysians have since fallen in their next three meetings, including a tame 21-12, 21-16 defeat in last month’s Japan Open semi-finals.
While Malaysia did secure a mixed doubles bronze in Madrid 2006 through Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty, it was with a makeshift pairing between regular men’s and women’s doubles specialists.
The nation only began to find genuine footing in the discipline with the pioneering full-time combination of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, who delivered a career-best silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai later followed and were consistently ranked inside the world’s top 10, but struggled to make an impact at major tournaments.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei now have the chance to change that narrative.
Zhen Bang-Ya Xin, already bronze medallists on their debut in Copenhagen in 2023, are widely touted as the long-term successors to Chinese greats Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong and will be equally hungry to stamp their mark with a first major title.
For Tang Jie-Ee Wei, their run to the Paris final has been nothing short of extraordinary given what unfolded just five months ago.
Following the flop at the All England, the pair split due to “differences” before reconciling and reigniting their partnership.
This will be their first final of the year, with their other previous season bests being semi-final finishes at the Malaysia Open, India Open, Indonesia Open, Japan Open and most recently Macau Open.
Nicknamed the “Gangster Duo” for their flamboyant identical hairstyles and fiery presence on court, Tang Jie-Ee Wei have become fan favourites for their spirited displays.
Now, they have the chance to transform from entertainers to world champions.
Tang Jie, 27, knows this is a personal redemption story.
Once struggling to make the breakthrough with former partner Peck Yen Wei, who retired in 2021, his career looked at risk of stagnation until Ee Wei came along.
Their partnership not only revived his fortunes but turned him into a world-class contender.
Ee Wei’s rise has been equally inspiring.
A former World Junior Championships silver medallist in girls’ doubles with Pearly Tan, her senior transition was hampered by health setbacks, forcing her out of the national team in 2019.
Her return in 2021, and the faith shown by then coach Paulus Firman to try her in mixed doubles, proved to be a masterstroke.
From fragile beginnings to now being one of the world’s best pairs, Tang Jie-Ee Wei stand just one win away from delivering Malaysia its first-ever mixed doubles world crown — and etching their names into history forever.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s road to final
First round: Bye;
Second round: 21-16, 21-11 against Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (Ind);
Third round: 14-21, 21-19, 21-17 against Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu (Ina);
Quarter-final: 21-15, 21-13 against Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto (Ind);
Semi-final: 21-18, 21-16 against Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra).
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
