PETALING JAYA: Former shuttler Goh Liu Ying has urged mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to save their partnership after both decided to go separate ways.
Afterall, Liu Ying understands the situation, having been on the same boat with Chan Peng Soon in the past.
Liu Ying and Peng Soon however, did not let their differences stop them from achieving success as a pair.
On Thursday, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) decided to split Tang Jie and Ee Wei and combined them with Chan Wen Tse and Loo Bing Kun respectively following the duo’s strained relationship for the past few months.
Liu Ying, who formed Malaysia’s No. 1 mixed doubles pair with Peng Soon during her playing days, is sad to see Tang Jie-Ee Wei separated after the pair reached a career-high No. 3 in the world this year and hopes that they can reunite.
“I think separating them doesn’t make them stronger, but it will be a valuable experience for them,” said Liu Ying.
“I believe the coaching team must have had their own reasons for making this decision after careful consideration and a thorough understanding of them.
“I guess this is not the final decision. After all, climbing to the world’s third rank is not something that can be given up so easily.”
Liu Ying believes that Tang Jie and Ee Wei are best suited together and hopes that the separation will revitalise both of them.
“A temporary separation can indeed bring freshness, but this is not the solution and I still believe they are the most suitable partners for each other,” said Liu Ying.
Every partnership will inevitably face challenges, but finding the right way to handle them will only take them to the next level.
“I guess this will be one of the solutions to become a better pair but do not give up on this partnership. They need some experience on handling this situation and this could be a test for them.”
Liu Ying will know a thing or two about challenges in a doubles partnership as she had to overcome her fair share of issues with Peng Soon during their 13 year-partnership.
The pair even had their partnership split for a while.
“I believe we have been through more than Tang Jie-Ee Wei have, especially since I have been injured and even had my partnership split before,” recalled Liu Ying.
“Arguing was like a daily routine for us, and on top of that, Peng Soon and I have very different personalities, with different ways of handling situations.
“Honestly, it’s quite simple. I don’t think this issue is as serious as people on the outside are saying.
“The players themselves know the situation well. After all, they understand what’s best for them and who they should pair with to achieve the best results.”
Despite the challenges they faced Peng Soon-Liu Ying created history by becoming the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to win a medal in the Olympics when they captured silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The duo also reached No. 3 in the world just like Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
Liu Ying has more words of advice for Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
“There is no doubles pair that never argue. In my opinion, the real problem is when a pair never argues at all. What matters is how you face and resolve those issues,” said Liu Ying.
“Remember your original intention – how you went from having no achievements to reaching this level, and all the effort you have put in.
“Success will never come easy. It’s a process of continuous refinement and improvement.
“There will be disappointments and frustrations, but as long as you and your partner share the same goal which is to succeed, then I believe no challenge is impossible to overcome.”
