Kuala Lumpur: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has officially approved national mixed doubles player Chen Tang Jie’s request to compete in both mixed and men’s doubles events, following his temporary split from longtime partner Toh Ee Wei.
The 27-year-old Chen Tang Jie will now partner Chan Wen Tse in mixed doubles, while also testing a new men’s doubles partnership with Wong Vin Sean. Both new pairings will debut at the Taipei Open (May 6–11) and the Thailand Open (May 13–18).
According to BAM’s Director of Doubles Coaching, Rexy Mainaky, the decision was reached after discussions between mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto and men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
“Yes, Tang Jie requested to play in both categories. Nova encouraged him to speak directly with Herry, and after discussions, Herry agreed to explore the possibility of finding a suitable men’s doubles partner for him,” said Rexy.
A Strategic Split for Clarity and Growth
BAM also confirmed that the split between Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei was a calculated move to help both athletes reassess their direction and dynamics as a pair.
Rexy explained:
“We noticed that Ee Wei tends to be very emotionally invested in every match, while Chen Tang Jie often remains silent—this imbalance was affecting their performance. We hope this separation helps both players gain clarity about their future and potential partners. Maybe one day they’ll realize they work best together.”
Since forming their partnership in late 2022, Tang Jie and Ee Wei have won three BWF World Tour titles: the 2023 Orleans Masters, the 2023 Taipei Open, and the 2024 Korea Open. They also reached a career-high world ranking of No. 3.
Testing New Partnerships in Five Tournaments
In the upcoming months, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will compete with their new partners in the following tournaments:
Taipei Open (May 6–11)
Thailand Open (May 13–18)
Malaysia Masters (May 20–25)
Singapore Open (May 27–June 1)
Indonesia Open (June 3–8)
Toh Ee Wei is now set to pair with Loo Bing Kun in mixed doubles. According to BAM, the initial three events (Taipei, Thailand, and Malaysia) will serve as benchmarks to evaluate the viability of these new combinations.
Rexy also drew parallels to the story of men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, who previously separated before reuniting and rising to become the world’s No. 2 duo—a reminder that temporary splits can sometimes lead to long-term success.
BAM: A Well-Considered Decision
The decision to separate Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei was approved in a recent Performance Committee Meeting, chaired by acting BAM President Datuk V. Subramaniam.
“After receiving final reports and recommendations from Nova and Rexy, we agreed to separate the pair for upcoming tournaments. We’ll also give the coaching team time to experiment with new combinations,” said Subramaniam.
As the national team prepares for a packed tournament schedule, BAM’s strategic restructuring shows a forward-looking approach to pairing chemistry, player development, and Olympic-level performance goals.
