Tang Jie-Ee Wei knocked out in All England opener

2026-03-03 - 17:03

Fourth seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei made too many unforced errors in the last two games. (AFP pic) PETALING JAYA: National mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei suffered a shock exit at the All England championships after losing to unheralded Danish pair Rasmus Espersen-Amalie Cecilie Kudsk in the opening round. The world No 4, who are also the tournament’s fourth seeds, took the first game 21-18 against the 34th-ranked Danes but lost 12-21, 23-25 in the second and third games at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. After winning the opening game, the reigning world champions appeared lethargic and made numerous unforced errors in the remaining two games. Tang Jie-Ee Wei tried to fight back in the rubber game but the Danish pair persevered to seal the match. It was a disappointing start for Malaysia at the All England, as mixed doubles pair Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing also lost 17-21, 18-21 to Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan in 36 minutes. Also knocked out in the opening round were world No 23 mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, who lost 17-21, 19-21 to 21st-ranked Indian duo Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto in 41 minutes. Malaysia’s eight men’s doubles pairs – the highest number from a single country in the history of the prestigious All England championships – begin their campaigns early tomorrow morning. The lone men’s singles entry Leong Jun Hao will open his campaign against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto. The national women’s doubles champions Pearly Tan-M Thinaah face a tough opening round against Japanese duo Arisa Igarashi-Chiharu Shida.