Going down memory lane

The Star

09-05-2025

All smiles: Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse speaking to the press after their victory over Indonesia's Bobby Setiabudi-Melati Oktavianti.
PETALING JAYA: Could Chen Tang Jie recreate his Taiwan Open triumph, this time with a new partner, Chan Wen Tse?
Tang Jie and Wen Tse are now Malaysia's sole survivors in the tournament, and the spotlight is on them to possibly go all the way.
Two years ago, Tang Jie made a dream debut with Toh Ee Wei at the same event, clinching the title despite having been paired for just seven months.
That victory was particularly meaningful, as it ended a 19-year drought for Malaysia in the mixed doubles at the tournament. The last pair to win the title was Koo Kien Keat-Chin Ee Hui back in 2004.
This time, however, the circumstances are different. Tang Jie has only been paired with Wen Tse for about a month in what is considered an experimental partnership initiated by coach Nova Widianto.
Still, the possibility of another title remains but only if they can clear their next hurdle in today's semi-finals against Indonesia's fourth seeds Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu.
Interestingly, Tang Jie-Wen Tse have already taken down two Indonesian pairs on their way to the last four. They beat Marwan Faza-Aisyah Pranata in the second round, then delivered a convincing 22-20, 21-10 win over Bobby Setiabudi-Melati Okta–vianti in just 28 minutes in the quarter-finals yesterday.
However, the challenge is expected to be much tougher this time, with Jafar-Felisha still riding high after winning bronze at the Asian Championships in Ningbo three weeks ago.
Said Tang Jie: 'I think we were more patient in today's match and focused on playing our own game. If we had followed their rhythm, we would have been at a disadvantage, as their defence is stronger than ours. So we used our speed to take them on.
'I think the most important thing was on the serve for both the men's and women's sides.
'As for their rhythm, I think when we play against them, it's always 50-50. It depends on who makes fewer mistakes or who is more decisive in terms of tactics. That's basically it,' added Tang Jie when interviewed by MyAllsports.
Ee Wei's campaign, however, came to a disappointing end after she and new partner Loo Bing Kun were unable to follow in Tang Jie's footsteps.
The pair fell 22-20, 17-21, 12-21 to Indonesia's Dejan Ferdinansyah and Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in a hard-fought encounter.
Malaysia also saw the exits of men and women singles representatives – Justin Hoh and K. Letshanaa.
Justin faced a tough assignment against home favourite Wang Tzu-Wei and despite solid performances in his earlier matches, he could not overcome the Taiwanese and lost 13-21, 15-21.
Letshanaa suffered a similar fate as she gave the second seed, Sim Yu-jin of South Korea a brave fight before she eventually fell short with a 16-21, 21-13, 15-21 defeat.