Kuala lumpur: Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has admitted that the country’s top mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, are still struggling to find common ground, especially when playing under pressure.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the world number three pair find it difficult to accept each other’s mistakes, which in turn affects their rhythm on court.

Rexy explained that it’s not a matter of skill but rather the pair’s tendency to panic when one makes a mistake, leading to a disruption in their game. He made these comments after observing the national team’s training session. Rexy was specifically addressing the pair’s inconsistent performance at the Macau Open last week. During the tournament, Tang Jie-Ee Wei, as the top seeds, missed the opportunity to secure their first Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour title of the season, losing in the semi-finals to Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje.

Rexy noted that the issue of poor communication is not unique to this pair. National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah had previously experienced a similar situation. He expressed hope that Tang Jie and Ee Wei will learn to accept each other’s mistakes and weaknesses to enhance their overall performance. He cited Pearly and Thinaah as examples, highlighting how their acceptance has led to more consistent performances.

Rexy emphasized that on court, players rely on their partners, reinforcing the importance of mutual support and understanding for better outcomes.