KUALA LUMPUR: Newly crowned world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei paid tribute to their coach Nova Widianto for shaping their career and guiding them through a difficult time.
Nova has been with the world No. 4 since the start of their partnership, but their journey almost unravelled in March when personal differences saw them split briefly.
It was Nova who patched things up, convinced them to reunite two months later, and ultimately steered them to the summit at the World Championships in
Paris on Sunday.
“We sometimes don’t trust ourselves, but coach (Nova) has never lost his trust in us. We are gifted to have a coach like him,” said Ee Wei.
Few gave them a chance after a roller-coaster season, but Tang Jie-Ee Wei rose to the occasion by stunning China‘s world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin 21-15, 21-14 in the final.
In a touching gesture, both players draped their gold medals around Nova’s neck.
Tang Jie recalled how his coach kept the faith even when results nosedived earlier this year.
“We are very happy because when we were struggling, he always believed in us and urged us to stay focused in training,” he said.
“He has always said that we have everything to challenge the world, and before matches he would remind us to trust in our abilities.
“We really appreciate what he has done for us.”
Nova, himself a two-time mixed doubles world champion with Liliyana Natsir in 2005 and 2007, has always kept a low profile and never sought the spotlight.
“I just hope they remain steady and consistent with their performance,” said the ever-humble Indonesian, despite having just produced Malaysia’s first world champion mixed doubles pair.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
