Badminton

Tang Jie-Ee Wei take low approach despite high ranking

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will keep their feet firmly on the ground after reaching their career-high ranking of world No. 3.

The duo started their campaign at the India Open on the right footing by seeing off Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan 21-15, 21-16 in the first round at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi today.

The Malaysians, who were promoted to the top seeding after the withdrawal of China's world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping, are eyeing their maiden Super 750 title in New Delhi.

But a modest Tang Jie said that there's still plenty of room for them to improve and they need to be humble and learn.

"I think the ranking is just a number.

I think that what we can still learn is unlimited," said the 27-year-old to the Badminton World Federation.

"We are still finding our mental focus, we just finished the Malaysian Open and we need to adjust our condition and maintain our physique to give a good performance here.

"It's cold here but we make ourselves comfortable, Malaysia was warmer last week.

"The priority for us is to be healthy and be consistent in tournaments."

Meanwhile, Toh Ee Wei said:
"I think everything is good here, we just arrived here yesterday and we prepared for today. We want to keep improving our skills, mental strength, we want to be more mature on the court and of course to continue work hard."

The Malaysian duo will take on either Malaysia Open champions Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran of Thailand or Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man-Ng Tsz Yau in the second round, tomorrow.

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