Tang Jie-Ee Wei Survive Major Scare To Keep Malaysia’s Mixed Doubles Hopes Alive
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei showed strong mental resilience after battling through a tense encounter to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters 2026 at Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil today.
The world No. 4 duo had to dig deep before overcoming Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi-Nita Violina Marwah 21-19, 22-20 in a gripping 47-minute contest.
Despite entering the tournament as one of Malaysia’s strongest title contenders, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei faced relentless pressure from the Indonesian pair, who displayed aggressive attacking play and fearless shot-making from the opening rally.
The first game saw both pairs exchanging points in a tightly contested battle before the Malaysians relied on their experience and composure to edge ahead and close the set 21-19.
However, the real drama unfolded in the second game when the Indonesian pair repeatedly took the lead and came close to forcing the match into a deciding set.
The Malaysians appeared to struggle at times as their opponents maintained intense pressure through quick net play and powerful rear-court attacks.
With momentum shifting dangerously in favour of the Indonesians, the home pair managed to remain composed under pressure and produced several crucial points at the right moments to seal the victory 22-20.
Speaking after the match, Chen Tang Jie admitted that they had anticipated a difficult encounter based on the Indonesians’ current ranking and recent performances.
“They are among the world’s top 20 pairs and they play a very aggressive style of badminton.
“We already knew from the start that this would not be an easy match,” he said.
He added that competing on home soil provided an important psychological advantage, especially during the tense closing stages of the second game.
“The support from the home fans really helped us stay focused and calm when the pressure became very intense,” he said.
Meanwhile, Toh Ee Wei said the pair deliberately avoided thinking about the possibility of playing a third set despite trailing at several stages late in the second game.
Instead, she explained that their focus remained on disrupting their opponents’ rhythm and collecting points one at a time.
“We tried to focus on one point at a time and find ways to break their momentum.
“Our coaches always remind us to show strong character on court and never give up easily,” she said.
The victory ensured Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed doubles competition remains alive after another professional Malaysian pair, Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, were eliminated earlier in the day.
The world No. 12 pair lost 19-21, 21-7, 19-21 to Taiwan’s Wu Guan Xu-Lee Chia Hsin in a hard-fought 52-minute encounter.
The defeat leaves Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei as Malaysia’s main mixed doubles hope to capture a home title at the tournament.
An even bigger challenge now awaits the Malaysians in tomorrow’s quarter-finals where they are scheduled to face China’s eighth seeds Gao Jia Xuan-Wei Ya Xin.
The clash is expected to be highly competitive as Wei Ya Xin is currently ranked world No. 2 alongside regular partner Jiang Zhen Bang, making the Chinese duo one of the tournament’s most dangerous contenders.
