KUALA LUMPUR – National mixed doubles player Chen Tang Jie will be paired with a new partner, Yap Ling, and they will make their first appearance at the 2022 Australian Open, scheduled from November 15 to 20.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said this had to be done following a serious knee injury suffered by Tang Jie’s former partner, Peck Yen Wei, during a training session two weeks ago.
“We hope this pairing is permanent. After discussions, Tang Jie said he wants Yap Ling,” he told reporters after the training session yesterday.
In the meantime, the former Indonesian doubles ace said he would try to pair Yen Wei with a new male partner, either Yap Roy King, Tee Kai Wun, or Man Wei Chong, after she recovers from her injury.
At the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, last May, Tang Jie-Yen Wei ended Malaysia’s 23-year title drought in mixed doubles when they defeated compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See 15-21, 21-19, 21-13, to clinch the gold medal.
Meanwhile, Rexy said he will announce the new coaches to fill the vacancies by former coaches Flandy Limpele (men’s doubles) and Paulus Firman (mixed doubles), in a week or two.
On April 1, Flandy made a shocking decision to leave BAM when he did not renew his contract after two years while a month later, Paulus, who is now Singapore’s doubles head coach, resigned to spend time with his family. – Bernama, September 28, 2022
