KUALA LUMPUR: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei became the first Malaysian shuttlers to succeed on the World Tour this season after claiming the mixed doubles title at the Orleans Masters in France today.
The world No 26 fought back valiantly from 9-2 down in the second game to beat Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei-Lee Chia Hsin 21-19, 21-17.
For Tang Jie-Ee Wei, the 2016 World Junior Championships bronze medallists, it was their third title after winning the Bangladesh International last December and Iran International in February this year.
With the victory, Tang Jie-Ee Wei achieved what their compatriots could not do in the opening nine World Tour stops.
Remarkably, their success came in just only their sixth start together on the BWF flagship circuit.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei's ability to win a World Tour event proved that they can be worthy contenders for a place in the Malaysian team to the Paris Olympics next year.
They can certainly vie with world No 7 Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and world No 12 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, and even unseat one of these two senior independent pairs in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme if they continue to rise steadily.