PETALING JAYA: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei may be the reigning world champions but facing compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the Denmark Open mixed doubles quarter-finals promises to be a tricky affair.
Past encounters have shown just how evenly matched the two pairs are, with Tang Jie-Ee Wei winning four of their seven meetings, including their most recent clash in the World Tour Finals semi-finals in Hangzhou last December.
Yesterday, Ee Wei, who recently returned to action after recovering from an abdominal injury, looked sharp alongside Tang Jie as they cruised past China’s Gao Jiaxuan-Wu Mengying 21-14, 21-11 in the second round.
Soon Huat and Shevon also impressed, beating Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara 21-13, 21-18 to book their spot in the last eight.
Ee Wei said she would tread with caution.
“I think we did well today. We talked a lot about our game and communicated well throughout the match, and that was our plan,” said Ee Wei in a post match interview with Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“Of course, it’s a good performance, but there’s still a lot for me to learn and to work on being more consistent on court.”
It was a disappointing outing for women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who bowed out of the Denmark Open after going down 18-21, 9-21 to Japan’s Arisa Igarashi-Chiharu Shida.
Chiharu, who previously partnered Nami Matsuyama, once again proved to be a thorn in Pearly and Thinaah’s side despite teaming up with a new partner.
Chiharu and Matsuyama had long been regarded as the Malaysians’ bogey pair, having won 13 of their 16 previous meetings before going their separate ways after the World Championships in Paris last August, ending their 10-year partnership.
“This was our first time playing against them, and I think some of their shots really put us under pressure. Towards the end, they handled the pressure better, and that’s what cost us,” said Thinaah.
Added Pearly: “From my side, I lost focus and made some simple mistakes. I kept telling myself to wake up and fight back, but their attacking shots were really aggressive, and that made the difference.”
