Not giving up: Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei made it into the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics before going down to South Korea’s eventual silver medallists Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun. — Reuters
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei were disappointed to not make the most of their promising start in the Paris Olympics but know that this is not the end of their journey.
Instead, their encouraging debut in the Olympics has only fuelled the fire in the pair to qualify again and perform better in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
World No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei had stunned China’s world No. 3 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping in the group stage and made it into the quarter-finals in Paris before going down to South Korea’s eventual silver medallists Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei were heartbroken to lose but are keen to put the disappointment behind them as they look towards the next Olympics.
Tang Jie will be 30 in 2028 while Ee Wei will be 28.
“We are really sad to not go further in the Olympics but this is not the end for us. Life goes on,” said Tang Jie.
“Yes, this Olympics is over for us but I’m only 26 now and Ee Wei is 24. We still have a long journey ahead of us.
“We have another chance in 2028 and we are 100% motivated to make it there and do better.”
Ee Wei is also looking forward to many big tournaments in the next four years before the Los Angeles Games starts.
“We still have many major competitions in the next few years like the World Championships, Sudirman Cup, All-England and Asian Games and we are looking forward to all these,” said Ee Wei.
“We also want to improve our ranking. We don’t want to be stagnant.”
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will next compete in the Japan Open starting on Tuesday in Yokohama.
The pair have been pitted against fellow Malaysians and world No. 15 independent duo Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing in the first round.
Meanwhile, husband and wife pairing and Malaysian Masters champions Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will open their campaign against China’s Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi.
