Malaysia celebrated its Independence Day in style as mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei etched their names into badminton history by capturing the BWF World Championships 2025 title in Paris.
The world No. 4 duo stunned China’s world No. 2 pair Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin with a commanding 21-15, 21-14 victory at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle on Sunday, producing a dazzling display of fast-paced attacking badminton combined with near-flawless execution.
From the very first rally, Tang Jie and Ee Wei showcased chemistry and composure. They raced to an 11-6 lead in the opening game and never looked back, sealing the first set with clinical precision. In the second game, they stormed ahead 10-5, before fending off a brief Chinese fightback to close out the historic win.
This triumph makes them only the second Malaysian pair ever to be crowned world champions, following Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik’s men’s doubles breakthrough in 2022.
The title carries deeper meaning for Tang Jie–Ee Wei, who endured a five-month split earlier this year due to differences, only to reunite stronger and prove their partnership’s resilience. Their victory also ended China’s dominance in the mixed doubles, a category the badminton powerhouse had won 10 times previously.
Adding to the narrative, their coach Nova Widianto guided them to glory exactly 20 years after he himself won gold with Indonesia’s Liliyana Natsir in Anaheim in 2005. For Malaysia, the result surpasses the nation’s previous best in the event—a bronze medal by Koo Kien Keat–Wong Pei Tty in Madrid 2006.
As the Jalur Gemilang flies high in Paris, Tang Jie and Ee Wei’s triumph stands as both a sporting milestone and a symbolic reminder of unity, perseverance, and national pride.
Credit Photo : AFP
