KUALA LUMPUR: National mixed doubles ace Chen Tang Jie's ambition to challenge for the "Big 4" has sparked excitement among Malaysian badminton fans.
While Tang Jie's specific reference to the "Big 4" wasn't immediately clear, he and partner Toh Ee Wei are well-positioned to break into the world's top four next season.
The pair, currently ranked a career-best world No. 6 as of Tuesday, could achieve this milestone by January, depending on their performances in upcoming tournaments.
They will kick off the 2025 season at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 (Jan 7-12), followed by India Open Super 750 (Jan 14-19).
The Paris Olympics quarter-finalists have enjoyed a stellar post-Olympics run, highlighted by a historic runners-up finish at the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou — the first for a Malaysian pair. Their other achievements include winning the Korea Open Super 300 and reaching the semi-finals of the China Masters Super 750.
Their rise has been steady, having started 2024 ranked world No. 9 before climbing to just outside the top 10 for most of the year.
However, the pair's path to the "Big 4" could accelerate further in January, especially with world No. 3 Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong expected to drop from the rankings following the former's retirement.
The husband-and-wife pair of Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie have also made significant strides.
A semi-final appearance in Hangzhou propelled them to world No. 7, a three-spot jump in the rankings.
They ended the 2023 season at No. 15.
Malaysia's mixed doubles prospects look even brighter heading into 2025, with Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin showing progress.
The pair wrapped up the year at world No. 21, a massive leap from their starting position of No. 92.
In the men's singles, Lee Zii Jia found some consolation after his season was disrupted by an ankle injury, which forced him to withdraw from the Hangzhou Finals group stage.
Despite the setback, he climbed two spots to world No. 6, while compatriot Leong Jun Hao remains the second-highest-ranked Malaysian at No. 29.
Meanwhile, women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah maintained their steady position at world No. 6, ensuring them a seeding advantage in tournaments next season.
WORLD RANKINGS
Men's singles: 1. Shi Yu Qi (Chn), 2. Anders Antonsen (Den), 3. Jonathan Christie (Ina), 4. Viktor Axelsen (Den), 5. Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha).
Leading Malaysians: 6. Lee Zii Jia, 29. Leong Jun Hao.
Doubles: 1. Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den), 2. Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang (Chn), 3. Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (Mas), 4. Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina), 5. Seo Seung Jae-Kang Min Hyuk (Kor).
Leading Malaysians: 6. Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, 14. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, 21. Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, 23. Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, 24. Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, 32. Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong.
Women's singles: 1. An Se Young (Kor), 2. Wang Zhi Yi (Chn), 3. Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), 4. Chen Yu Fei (Chn), 5. Han Yue (Chn).
Leading Malaysian: 43. Goh Jin Wei.
Doubles: 1. Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning (Chn), 2. Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee (Kor), 3. Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn), 4. Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan (Chn), 5. Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi (Jpn).
Leading Malaysians: 6. Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, 43. Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien.
Mixed doubles: 1. Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping (Chn), 2. Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin (Chn), 3. Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong (Chn), 4. Kim Won Ho-Jeong Na Eun (Kor), 5. Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg).
Leading Malaysians: 6. Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, 7. Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, 20. Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, 21. Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin.