PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shooters Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie can start the new year with a spring in their step as they have a great opportunity to move up the rankings next month.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Soon Huat-Shevon, currently ranked No. 6 and No. 7 in the world respectively, could overtake the two pairs directly above them – South Korea’s Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun (No. 4) and Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (No. 5) as they compete in back-to-back Malaysian Open (January 7-12) and Indian Open (January 14-19).
This after Won-ho-Na-eun only registered to play in men’s doubles and women’s doubles respectively in both the tournaments and in the Indonesian Masters (January 21-26) while Chun Man will start a new partnership with Ng Tsz Yau.
The 33-year-old Ying Suet announced her retirement after the closing World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
Currently, Won-ho-Na-eun has 76,790 ranking points while Chun Man-Ying Suet has 75,070 points.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei (73,940) and Soon Huat-Shevon (71,470) are close behind and have the chance to overtake both pairs.
The Malaysian Open is a World Tour Super 1000 event and offers one of the highest ranking points.
Even a first round exit will see a player or pair earn 3,300 points while those who reach the second round will receive 5,400 points.
Both Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Soon Huat-Shevon proved they have what it takes to do much better in front of the passionate home fans after finishing 2024 on top.
The former finished second in the Tour Finals while the latter made it into the last four.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei gave China’s Paris Olympic gold medalists and world No.3 Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong a good fight before losing in the final in what was Siwei’s last international outing.
In the Malaysian Open, Tang Jie-Ee Wei are seeded third behind only China’s Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping and Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin while Soon Huat-Shevon are the fourth seeds.
Being seeded means both Malaysian pairs will avoid the Chinese pairs in the early rounds.
Ee Wei hopes to do well in front of the home fans.
“The Malaysian Open is a very important tournament for us because it is on our home ground and everyone is cheering for us,” said Ee Wei.
“Of course we want to be champions but we have to fight all the way and go all out.
“Win or lose, we have to give our best on the court.”
Meanwhile, the other home pairs on the mixed doubles list are Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
The draw for the tournament will be released on December 31.
