KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Newly-minted mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will not be competing in the Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships from September 9 to September 14.
National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto said the decision was finalised after taking into account their current physical and mental conditions, having just returned home from their historic outing in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in Paris, France, last week.
"We decided not to enter them for the Hong Kong Open…initially, we wanted them to go, but the day before yesterday, they informed us of their current condition, especially that Ee Wei is not in good shape to compete.
"It could be that they are fatigued from their exploits there (in Paris). So, we will focus on the China Masters instead,” he told the press during the training session at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara today.
The China Masters is slated to be held from September 16 to September 21, just two days after the Hong Kong Open ends.
Nova added that since Chen-Toh have confirmed their ticket to the BWF World Tour Finals by virtue of emerging as world champions in Paris, they will prioritise the pair's participation only in Super 750 and Super 1000 tournaments after this.
