Kuala Lumpur: With the 2025 Badminton World Championships in Paris set to begin this Monday, Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei have been urged to clear their minds and focus entirely on the mission ahead.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Doubles Coaching Director, Rexy Mainaky, issued a firm reminder: it’s time for the world No. 4 pair to stop dwelling on past issues and step into the arena mentally sharp.
“The main focus for our mixed doubles squad has been psychological readiness,” said Rexy. “Their coach, Nova Widianto, has worked closely with them over the past three weeks to help them let go of what happened in the past and focus on what’s in front of them — the World Championships.”
The pair had earlier endured a rocky period, including a brief separation after the All England in March. They reunited in May at the Singapore Open, but their struggles with performance inconsistency — largely due to communication breakdowns — continued, culminating in a semifinal defeat to China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin at the Japan Open.
Rexy didn’t mince words:
“They’re no longer children. They need to take ownership of their weaknesses. They’ve come close to achieving their goals before but stumbled — and they know why.”
Despite the concerns, Rexy noted some encouraging signs during recent training sessions.
“I see improvement. Ee Wei, in particular, looks more enthusiastic and seems to be enjoying her time on court. The progress isn’t massive yet, but it’s noticeable. The key now is not to keep rehashing the past.”
Malaysia will need Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei to be at their best if they hope to contend with the world’s elite mixed doubles pairs in Paris.
