KUALA LUMPUR: National mixed doubles shuttler Chen Tang Jie wants to forget about Malaysia's disappointing outing at the recent Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) and instead focus on doing well in the European leg of the World Tour next month.
Tang Jie and partner Toh Ee Wei, who are ranked world No. 43, were part of the national squad which lost 3-2 to China in the BAMTC quarterfinals in Dubai and subsequently failed to achieve their semi-final target.
While Tang Jie-Ee Wei are considered a fairly new pair, the former has very high expectations on himself and his partner.
"I want to apologise for not achieving the semi-final target at the BAMTC. I admit that Ee Wei and I could have played better.
"However, that is in the past. We must look forward now.
"The All England draw is out but I don't want to think too far ahead because we still have the German Open to compete in first. Let's take it one step at a time," Tang Jie said.
The duo have won two out of three finals since being paired late last year, winning their latest title at the Iran International Challenge early this month.
They also did well to reach the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open (Super 1000) last month.
For the German Open (Super 300) on March 7-12, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will open their campaign against national teammates Hoo Pang Rong-Teoh Mei Xing.
While for the All England (Super 1000) on March 14-19, they will take on Japan's Yuki Kaneko-Misaki Matsutomo in the first round.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei's main goal is to try and move up the rankings before the one-year Olympic qualifying window begins in May.
"Right now, our focus is on our training. We don't want to dwell on the past. We want to train hard and do well," Tang Jie said.
ENDS
KW: Badminton, Chen Tang Jie, Toh Ee Wei, Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships, World Tour