KUALA LUMPUR: Though the Group D draw doesn't look so dangerous, world No. 9 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei know they must still tread with caution, especially in their opening day clash with Singapore's husband-wife duo, Terry Hee and Jessica Tan, at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Terry-Jessica, ranked No. 18 in the world, are coached by Paulus Firman, who previously oversaw the development of both Tang Jie and Ee Wei during his coaching stint with the Badminton Association of Malaysia.
The Indonesian was in charge of the mixed doubles department for two years prior to his departure in April 2022.
During that period, Paulus offered Ee Wei a fresh start in mixed doubles, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke as she went on to establish herself as an elite player.
Paulus also helped Tang Jie and his former partner, Peck Yen Wei, win the 2022 Sea Games gold in Vietnam, although he left the BAM a month earlier.
Ee Wei once revealed that she was on the brink of quitting after struggling to make an impact as a women's doubles player following her return to the national team in mid-2020. Paulus' timely intervention, taking her under his wing, changed her trajectory.
Ee Wei had previously given a heartfelt tribute to Paulus, as quoted in Timesport on May 1, 2022: "I was frustrated, the Covid-19 pandemic was getting to me and I was struggling as a women's doubles player.
"It felt like I was at a dead end and the only option then was to give up, but coach Paulus contacted me and asked me to give the mixed doubles a shot.
"He was more than just a coach, he looked out for us like a parent. I couldn't help myself but cry when I heard that he was going to leave us.
"It was only for a short while, but he has done so much for me. I will never forget that."
Tang Jie shared his similar thought via Instagram after winning the Sea Games gold in April 2022: "You are not only a good coach, but also our third parent. Truly appreciate what you have done for us."
Paulus had since been roped in by BA of Singapore to lead their doubles department in September 2022, and lived up to his promise of helping Terry-Jessica to qualify for their first Olympics.
In doing so, Terry-Jessica became Singapore's first local-born mixed doubles duo to qualify for the Olympics.
Indonesia-born Hendri Saputra and China-born Li Yujia were the first from the republic to feature in the event at Beijing 2008.
Terry-Jessica may not be having the best form leading to the Games, but they did show what they're capable of when in their element.
In January, they defeated Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai en route to the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open, their best outing yet in a Super 1000 event.
They will be hoping to follow up on their remarkable triumph at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games by adding another medal from a major multi-sport Games.
But to make it out of the Group D which comprises China's world No. 2 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping and Americans Vinson Chiu-Jennie Gai, they know a win against Tang Jie-Ee Wei would be imperative, knowing that Yan Zhe-Dong Ping would prove too strong.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei had only played Terry-Jessica once, during the first round of the Swiss Open, with the former emerging victorious 21-12, 19-21, 21-15.