Kuala lumpur: Reigning world mixed doubles champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are embracing a bold challenge thrown by national mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto to return from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand with nothing less than the gold medal.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ee Wei stated that the target is not just a coach’s ambition but a testament to Nova’s unwavering belief in their ability to restore the gold for Malaysia, last captured by Tang Jie when he paired with Peck Yen Wei at the 2021 edition in Vietnam. She emphasized the importance of discipline in training sessions to ensure they give their best performance on the court. “Win or lose, that’s another story. We will fight for every point, and of course, we will give our best for our country as well,” Ee Wei remarked after an engagement session with Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad.

The newly-crowned Australian Open 2025 champions are among eight athletes selected for the Winning Meals Kachimeshi programme by Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad. This program provides them with a balanced nutritional plan designed by sports nutrition experts to support their training needs and optimize performance. The other six athletes in the programme, all from athletics, include Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (sprint); Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari (800 meters); Queenie Ting Kung Ni (discus throw); Jonah Chang Rigan (shot put); Ng Jing Xuan (javelin throw) and Sanjay Manimaran (10,000 metres).

Recently, Nova was reported as saying that based on their current form, the world number three duo should be capable of meeting the target set for them. Meanwhile, Tang Jie expressed a preference to focus on themselves rather than overanalyze their rivals, including home favorites and world number four pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran, who could pose a potent threat in the battle for gold.

The 2025 SEA Games will be held from Dec 9-20 across two provinces: Bangkok and Chonburi.