Peng Soon advises Tang Jie to be in peak condition in Ee Wei absence

KUALA LUMPUR: Former mixed doubles ace Chan Peng Soon advised Chen Tang Jie to remain in top condition while his partner Toh Ee Wei recovers fully from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her left knee.

Ee Wei suffered the injury during the Singapore Open quarter-final against India’s Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto.Subsequent medical assessments revealed a partial tear of the ACL in her left knee, putting her out of action for the foreseeable future.While Ee Wei has been undergoing treatment pending surgery, national mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto did not waste time.Tang Jie will see action at the Japan Open (July 14-19) and China Open (July 21-26) with junior player Clarissa San.The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics silver medallist Peng Soon is no stranger to the situation.

Peng Soon combined with Cheah Yee See, Lai Pei Jing and Peck Yen Wei after his partner Goh Liu Ying had surgeries on both knees to maintain his competitive level.

“Definitely, I feel sad (about Ee Wei’s injury). But I think the most important thing (for Tang Jie) is to focus on improving himself. Take care of your own condition and performance, and keep training,” Peng Soon urged Tang Jie.

“Even if his (new) partner is a younger player, he can still learn from the experience because they may be able to cover different aspects of the game better. In the end, it will make him stronger.

“After Ee Wei comes back, I think it’s important that Tang Jie continues to maintain his performance level.”

Peng Soon also stressed that injuries are part and parcel of a player’s career, and the situation becomes more complicated in doubles when one player is injured while the other remains fit.

Such situations, said Peng Soon, affect both players in terms of future tournament plans and goals.

“Of course, any injury affects both players. It’s like your right leg is healthy, but your left leg is injured — it still affects you the same way,” added Peng Soon.

“Liu Ying and I were one pair. Even though she was injured and I wasn’t, her injury still affected everything for me — my future, my tournaments, my plans — everything was affected.”

Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s title defence at the World Championships in New Delhi on Aug 17-23 may not be possible but, as Peng Soon stressed, the pair may have to look at their long-term goals, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, rather than rushing back into action too soon.