It takes two to Tang-o
Youngster ready to make partnership with Liu Ying a success
KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Chen Tang Jie is relishing the chance to make headway with seasoned campaigner Goh Liu Ying.
Tang Jie reported for duty and went through a training session in the afternoon with Liu Ying at the Academy Badminton Malaysia ( BAM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
National mixed doubles head coach Chin Eei Hui has paired up Tang Jie, a Petaling Badminton Club (PBC) product, with Liu Ying to add depth in the squad.
The duo will make their debut in two tournaments – the India International Challenge in Mumbai (Nov 29-Dec 3) and the Maldives International Challenge in Male (Dec 5-10).
The duo are the country’s fifth pair in the national team. The others are Tan Kian MengLai Pei Jing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See and Hoo Pang Ron-Peck Yen Wei.
Liu Ying-Peng Soon won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and reached the All-England final in March. They had to break up due to Liu Ying’s shoulder injury in April.
Tang Jie said Liu Ying made him feel right at home on his first day.
“I’m from a club. This is my first day in the national association (Badminton Association of Malaysia) and I was quite nervous,” said the 19-year-old Tang Jie, who stands tall at 178cm.
“But everyone was so welcoming. It feels good to be in the national team. Liu Ying is a very good player, famous and popular but she is nice to me. I hope to learn as much as possible from her.
“This is a new beginning for me and I promise to give my all to make this partnership work,” added Tang Jie, who won one silver (mixed team) and one bronze (mixed doubles with Toh Ee Wei) at the World Junior Championships in Bilbao, Spain last year.