KUALA LUMPUR: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei know what they need to crack the top ranks in the world of mixed doubles – elite sparring partners.
The world No. 9 have already made waves this season, clinching the Korea Open title and reaching the finals of the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open. Their impressive form also saw them making it to the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics.
However, their bid for the Hong Kong Open final was cut short today by China's world No. 2 Feng Yan Zhe- Huang Dong Ping, who won 21-14, 23-21.
Reflecting on the loss, Ee Wei acknowledged the gap in preparation.
"The Chinese pair were in control throughout," said Ee Wei in an interview with the Badminton World Federation.
"We gave it our all, but they dictated the pace.
"Yan Zhe-Dong Ping are world-class players, and while we're disappointed, we've learned valuable lessons from this match."
Ee Wei pointed out the stark contrast in training conditions.
While China dominates the top three mixed doubles spots, with Paris Olympic champions Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong leading the pack, Malaysian pairs lack top-tier sparring opportunities.
"China's top three world-ranked pairs spar with each other regularly. That's a massive advantage," Ee Wei explained. "What we need is quality training partners. It's a shortcoming we must address if we're to compete with the best."