KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei hope to reap the rewards of their past month's sparring sessions with the national men's doubles at the Paris Olympics.
The world No. 9 have struggled to impress in recent months, despite finishing second twice at the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters.
However, they know these results will count for little given their apparent difficulty in matching higher-ranked opponents, whom they must overcome to contend for a podium finish in their Olympic debut in Paris.
For instance, they lost tamely to South Korea's world No. 3 Seo Seung Jae-Chae Yu Jung twice in their last two outings - the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open and first round of the Indonesia Open.
The only higher-ranked rivals they have defeated this year were Thailand's world No. 6 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the first round of the All England in March. They also lost to the Thai pair on two other occasions this year.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei were also no match for China's world No. 1 Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong, whom they played twice, and once against No. 2 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping, all of which resulted in straight-game losses.
Following the Indonesia Open, Tang Jie-Ee Wei have embarked on an intensive training programme which has pitted them against their men's doubles teammates.
"We have been sparring with the men's doubles in order to build speed and power in our play, something we don't get in mixed doubles matches," said Tang Jie.
"These were two key areas we were looking to improve, so hopefully the efforts we've put in over the past month will boost our performance at the Olympics."
Tang Jie also insisted that the pair's dismal recent results will have no effect on what unfolds in Paris.
"The past records won't have any significant meaning. The past is past, and the Olympics is an entirely new competition," said Tang Jie.
"It won't help to dwell on what has already taken place. What matters is how we're going to perform at the Olympics."
Tang Jie has expressed confidence that the guidance of two former Indonesian Olympic medallists - coaching director Rexy Mainaky and mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto - will make a difference for them in Paris.
Rexy won the men's doubles gold with Ricky Subagja at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and Nova claimed silver alongside Liliyana Natsir in mixed doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Tang Jie shared this when he and Ee Wei were asked if they had approached Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, the Rio Olympics silver medalists, for advice.
"Peng Soon and Liu Ying have already retired and are living their own lives, so we only turn to our coaches Rexy and Nova. We can certainly count on them as they have won Olympic gold and silver as players," said Tang Jie.
"Also, they oversee our training, so they know us best."