Last chance saloon: China’s Zheng Siwei (front) will play his final match with Huang Yaqiong at the World Tour Finals against Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei today. — AP
PETALING JAYA: The stage is set for top mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to go up against China’s famous stars Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong for one last time.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have set up a mouth-watering clash against Siwei-Yaqiong in the final of the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China.
And the Malaysians are relishing it although they will be the underdogs.
Siwei had announced his intentions to retire after the Finals and is out to end his career on a high by capturing the title again with Yaqiong in front of their adoring home fans in Hangzhou.
The 27-year-old won the title in 2019, 2022 and 2023 with Yaqiong and twice in 2016 and 2017 with previous partner Chen Qingchen.
World No. 8 Tang Jie-Ee Wei played brilliantly to beat fellow Malaysians and world No. 10 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-15, 21-12 in the last four yesterday.
The Chinese duo, who have not played since capturing gold in the Paris Olympics in August, showed no signs of rustiness when they secured an impressive 21-11, 21-18 victory over world No. 2 teammates Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin to book their spot in the final.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei know that they face a tough task in the title showdown but are thankful for another chance to play against Siwei-Yaqiong and are hoping to pull off a huge upset.
“As we all know, this is his last international tournament. He said he will retire after this tournament. It’s such an honour to play them,” Tang Jie told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“Win or lose, it will be a pleasure and honour to play against him. China is a very strong country and their players are very aggressive. We need to try to come up with a strategy to beat them.”
Ee Wei however, was happy to beat their seniors for the second time en route to the final.
“It’s always not easy to play against fellow Malaysians as we know each other’s game play very well,” said Ee Wei.
“Of course they are our seniors and we need to learn a lot from them and when we go on to the court, we just give our best and fight hard.
“Our job is not done yet, so we need to calm down and focus on tomorrow’s (today) match,” she added.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei have created history by becoming the first Malaysians to reach the mixed doubles final since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
This is also a huge breakthrough for the pair as this is their biggest final in their careers so far.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s best achievement before this was capturing the World Tour Super 500 Korean Open in August.
The last Malaysian to make it into the title match in the Finals is Datuk Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles in 2017 when the competition was still known as the Super Series Finals.
Chong Wei, who won the title thrice in 2008, 2009 and 2013 finished runners-up to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in 2017.
Men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were the last Malaysian winners when they were crowned champions in 2016.
No Malaysian has won the title since the tournament was rebranded to the World Tour Finals.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei are just one win away from ending the wait for a Malaysian winner and from scooping up a whopping US$210,000 in prize money.
The pair will need to be at their very best against Siwei-Yaqiong as they have never beaten the latter, losing in all their past four meetings in straight games.
