Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse, are gearing up for what promises to be an emotional and highly significant final outing together at the upcoming Malaysian Masters, scheduled to take place from May 20 to 25 at the iconic Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. This will mark the pair’s last competitive appearance on home soil, adding extra weight to their campaign.
Their recent breakthrough performance at the Taiwan Open has set a positive tone ahead of the home tournament. In Taipei, Tang Jie and Wen Tse showcased their growing chemistry and potential by advancing to the semi-finals. Only to be halted by the formidable Indonesian duo Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Pasaribu, who eventually clinched the championship. This result marked a commendable feat for Tang Jie and Wen Tse, considering it was their debut together on the international stage.
Despite their impressive debut, the partnership between Tang Jie and Wen Tse will be short-lived, as Tang Jie is scheduled to reunite with his regular partner, Toh Ee Wei, following the conclusion of the Malaysian Masters. Tang Jie, now 27, is determined to make the most of this final chapter alongside Wen Tse, who at just 19, has shown promising signs of becoming one of Malaysia’s future badminton stars.
With the support of the passionate home crowd behind them, Tang Jie and Wen Tse aim to deliver a memorable performance that will leave a lasting impression. The duo is keen to capitalize on the momentum from Taipei and push further into the draw, potentially even eyeing the title as a fitting farewell.
Tang Jie is no stranger to the Malaysian Masters stage, having reached the semi-finals last year with Ee Wei. However, their campaign was cut short after a defeat to fellow Malaysians Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie, who eventually went on to claim the championship. This experience serves as extra motivation for Tang Jie to go one better this time, albeit with a different partner.
Loh Kean Yew Triumphs in Taiwan as Tien-chen’s Dream Ends in Heartbreak
In other highlights from the Taiwan Open, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew made a resounding return to the winner’s circle by clinching the men’s singles title. The 2021 World Champion displayed nerves of steel and world-class tenacity in a pulsating final against Taiwan’s crowd favorite Chou Tien-chen.
In front of a packed stadium, Loh fought tooth and nail to secure a hard-earned 21-14, 15-21, 22-20 victory over Tien-chen. This marked Loh’s first title of the 2024 season, ending his title drought in dramatic fashion. Meanwhile, Tien-chen, a four-time winner of the Taiwan Open (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022), was left ruing his missed opportunity to etch his name on the trophy for a fifth time.
The victory will undoubtedly serve as a huge confidence booster for Loh, as he sets his sights on the rest of the season’s major tournaments.
Complete Taiwan Open Finals Recap
The finals day in Taipei also saw a string of captivating matches across all disciplines:
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Men’s Singles: Loh Kean Yew (Singapore) def. Chou Tien-chen (Taiwan) 21-14, 15-21, 22-20.
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Men’s Doubles: Wang Chi-lin and Chiu Hsiang-chieh (Taiwan) triumphed over Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju with a straight-game victory, 21-18, 21-15.
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Women’s Singles: Rising Japanese star Tomoka Miyazaki outlasted Thailand’s Pitchamon Opatniputh in a thrilling three-game battle, 21-12, 20-22, 21-14.
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Women’s Doubles: Taiwan’s own Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu proved too strong for Japan’s Mizuki Otake and Miyu Takahashi, taking the title with a convincing 21-14, 21-15 win.
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Mixed Doubles: The all-Indonesian final saw Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Pasaribu overcome Dejan Ferdinansyah and Siti Fadia Ramadhanti, bouncing back from a first-game loss to secure the crown, 18-21, 21-13, 21-17.
As the badminton season heats up, all eyes will now turn to Kuala Lumpur. Where Tang Jie and Wen Tse will look to script a fairytale ending to their brief yet impactful partnership on home soil.
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