Source:REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
[Saba Sports News] Goh Liu Ying, the Malaysian badminton star who won a mixed doubles silver medal with Chan Peng Soon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, stated that mutual accusations after conflicts and disputes among doubles pairs are unhelpful for growth, and spreading negative emotions only exacerbates the situation. However, a crisis in a doubles partnership does not always mean that they must split; on the contrary, it may enhance understanding and rapport between partners. Although Goh Liu Ying did not name anyone specifically, her insights might be applicable to the recent conflict involving Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei. The world-ranked 4th Chen/Toh pair was defeated in the first round of the All England Open last week by the Indonesian duo Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja, marking their second consecutive defeat against the same opponents following the Orleans Masters. A few days later, Toh deleted their photos together on Instagram, suggesting a possible rift. Currently, Toh’s Instagram account is set to private, showing no posts. With media coverage, opinions from veterans, and comments from fans, Chen and Toh have faced inquiries about the situation. Last Monday, Chen responded to the conflict, stating it was a minor issue and not concerning, but whether the pair has reconciled remains a point of interest for fans and media.