Total joy: Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei celebrating their win over China’s Guo Xinwa-Li Qian in the Korean Open final. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei made up for their disappointment in the Paris Olympics in style by capturing their biggest title together so far in the Korean Open. And they dedicated it to their coach Nova Widianto.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei were left heartbroken after going down in the quarter-finals in their maiden appearance in the Olympics but showed great determination and fighting spirit to shrug off the pain and triumphed in Korea.
And the world No. 9 pair did it with a hard-fought 17-21, 21-13, 21-13 win over China’s Guo Xinwa-Li Qian in the final in Mokpo yesterday.
Xinwa-Li Qian had stunned homesters and Paris Games silver medallists Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun in the last four a day earlier and looked on course for another upset when they took the first game.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei though refused to throw in the towel and came back firing to win the second and third games in commanding fashion.
It was sheer joy for the pair as their win came just a day after Merdeka Day.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei finally got it right in their third attempt this year after finishing runners-up in the Thailand Masters in January and Swiss Open in March.
The duo have also won a World Tour Super 500 title for the first time after two Super 300 titles last year in the Orleans Masters and Taiwan Open.
Ee Wei, who was thrilled with the win said that it did not come easy for her and Tang Jie after a tough few weeks following the Olympics.
“This is our first title this year and it’s a breakthrough for us as it’s also our first Super 500 title win,” said Ee Wei.
“This win is not easy as the Olympics is just over and mentally and physically, I was not at my best. We are proud to win this title. Our coach Nova gave us lots of motivation and confidence. He wanted us to do our best and enjoy our game.
“We did a good job today because we lost the first game but we never gave up.
“This is also a gift for Malaysia for Merdeka Day,” added Ee Wei.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will now look to continue their good form when they compete next in the back-to-back Hong Kong Open (Sept 10-15) and China Open (Sept 17-22).
Meanwhile, there was no double joy for Malaysia when women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah went down 12-21, 11-21 to homesters and former world No. 3 Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong.
The Koreans were on top of their game from start to finish while Pearly-Thinaah could not replicate their brilliant performance in the last four where they toppled another home pair, world No. 2 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee.Thinaah said that fatigue caught up to her and Pearly after a tough run of matches starting from the Olympics.
“The Koreans were well prepared against us and we have to accept this defeat. We were also feeling quite fatigued after playing long matches,” said Thinaah in a post match interview with Spotv.
“We have to give credit to our opponents. At the same time, we can’t be too harsh on ourselves as well
“For now, we hope to get a good rest and come back stronger for our next tournament which will most probably be the Hong Kong Open.”
Thinaah also allayed fears that Pearly had suffered a serious ankle injury after the latter appeared to slip during the first game and needed medical attention.
“She slipped on court during the first game but she said she was fine,” said Thinaah.
“While playing, it did not affect her too much but perhaps now, she is feeling a bit uneasy but nothing to worry about.”
Pearly-Thinaah’s last title win came in the 2022 French Open.
The pair also came second best twice in the Hong Kong Open and Malaysian Masters last year.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Lu Guangzu (Chn) bt Lee Chia-hao (Tpe) 21-16, 20-22, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana (Ina) bt Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) 18-21, 21-9, 21-8.
Women’s singles: Kim Ga-eun (Kor) w.o Wang Zhiyi (Chn).
Women’s doubles: Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong (Kor) bt Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (Mas) 21-12, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Mas) bt Guo Xinwa-Li Qian (Chn) 17-21, 21-13, 21-13.
