KUALA LUMPUR: With China breaking up their top two pairs, this may give Malaysia a fighting chance of landing the elusive All England mixed doubles title next month.
China's Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Yai Xin will play with different partners at the All England.
Zhen Bang will pair off with Dong Ping while Yan Zhe will partner Wei Ya Xin for the prestigious tournament in Birmingham.
Though winning six World Tour titles last year, world No. 1 Yan Zhe-Dong Ping were unable to dominate the mixed doubles scene like Paris Olympic champions Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong, who retired after winning the World Tour Finals in December.
World No. 2 Zhen Bang-Ya Xin won four titles on the tour and also captured the India Open last month, but that is still not convincing enough for the China BA.
Malaysia have never won the All England mixed doubles crown though David Choong partially claimed some credit after winning with his English partner, June White, in 1953.
China's "experiment" in Birmingham may open the door for Malaysia's world No. 3 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei or world No. 4 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai to cart off the All England crown.
National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto feels there is an outside chance, but said Zhen Bang-Dong Ping will be the pair to beat.
"China are not so confident with their current pairs after Si Wei-Ya Qiong retired. Although they are ranked as the top two, both pairs are beatable and this is possibly the reason why they try out the new combinations at the All England," said Nova.
"Despite switching players, China are still strong as Zhen Bang-Dong Ping and Yan Zhe-Ya Xin will be the top two seeds.
"Between the two, I rate Zhen Bang-Dong Ping as the stronger combination and they could be retained after the All England.
"However, China are still ahead of us, and we have to continue trying our best to make a breakthrough.
"This time, we will have about four weeks of preparation before playing at the All England and be in a better condition to challenge the new China combinations."
Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Soon Huat-Shevon both lost in the second round of the All England last year.