Badminton

Steady nerves key to Tang Jie-Ee Wei in WTF quest

KUALA LUMPUR: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have the pedigree to do well at the World Tour Finals (WTF) in December provided they can keep their nerves against top rivals.

National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto believes that staying calm under pressure will be crucial for the Malaysian pair, who will face stiff competition in Hangzhou from Dec 11-15.

Ee Wei has recovered from a freak training injury and is raring for action.

Last month, she crashed into a window, sustaining a deep gash on her left elbow that required 16 stitches, and suffered a second-degree back injury.

The injury forced her and Tang Jie to withdraw from the Arctic and Denmark Opens, but Ee Wei has since made a full recovery.

The duo are now set to compete in the Super 500 Kumamoto Masters (Nov 12-17) and the China Masters (Nov 19-24), with the goal of maintaining a top-four spot in the world tour rankings. Achieving this would mean a favourable seeding for the WTF, where they are currently ranked fourth, just behind fellow Malaysians Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai.

"There's a real chance for Tang Jie-Ee Wei to make the WTF semi-finals, but they must avoid letting excitement get the better of them at crucial moments," said Nova.

"Their fighting spirit is a huge asset, but they must keep it in check to avoid losing focus, which has cost them key matches before. With composure, they can secure a top-four finish in Hangzhou."

Tang Jie-Ee Wei have also been registered for the Super 300 Korea Masters (Nov 5-10) as a precaution to ensure WTF qualification, but they may choose to withdraw.

The WTF will feature the top seven pairs from the World Tour rankings, as well as the Paris Olympic champions Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong of China.

With both Malaysian pairs all but confirmed for the competition, the prospect of an all-Malaysian showdown in Hangzhou looks promising.

The WTF offers an impressive US$2.5 million prize purse, with the mixed doubles champions set to claim a US$210,000 (RM912,000) payout.

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