PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Chen Tang Jie is excited by the Olympic Games vibes as he prepares to make his debut with Toh Ee Wei in Paris.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been training for the past two days in the Adidas Arena in Porte de la Chapelle where the badminton competition will take place tomorrow.
The pair will open their campaign in Group D against Singapore’s husband and wife pairing Terry Hee-Jessica Tan.
“The vibes are great here. The stadium is very big and the design is really nice,” said Tang Jie.
“I’m really excited (to be here and to compete in my first Olympics).
“Overall, we are still adjusting to the draught on court and the lighting.”
World No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei were only combined at the end of 2022 but did not take long to click and move up the rankings to become the country’s No. 1 mixed doubles pair and qualified for the Olympics under the guidance of Indonesian coach Nova Widianto.
The pair, who have been fondly called the ‘’gangster duo’’ by fans are known for their identical hairstyles and fighting spirit on court.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are considered underdogs in Paris but are hoping to defy the odds and win a medal.
“It’s my first time competing in this grand stage and every ounce of effort has led to this day,” said Tang Jie.
“I aim to create history and bring a medal back to Malaysia.”
If they manage to win a medal, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will become only the second Malaysian mixed doubles pair to stand on the podium in the Olympics after Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying who captured silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will first look to finish in the top two of their group and reach the quarter-finals.
The other pairs in their group are China’s world No. 2 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping and world No. 30 Americans Vinson Chiu-Jennie Gai.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will face the Americans in their second match before taking on Yanzhe-Dongping.
