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The Journey of Toh Ee Wei: The Fighter’s Path

Ee Wei and her partner Chen Tang Jia made history in Paris at the 2025 World Championships by becoming the first Malaysian players to win the Mixed Doubles title in a two-set demolition of the second seeds Jiang Zhenbang & Wei Yaxin. The intensity that they brought to the court was unplayable at times; their Chinese rivals struggled to get any foothold in the game.

Screengrab of the champions courtesy of BWF

Ee Wei has lived on the fringes of badminton greatness all her career but somehow, owing to injury, illness or just bad luck she hasn’t climbed to the top of the podium very often. However, on one glorious day – after a near faultless campaign through the tournament – everything clicked after years of hard work.

Looking back, Ee Wei’s path has not been smooth. Her career could have been ended by surgeries, rejections, illnesses, injuries and the pandemic shutdown but through it all she kept going. She never extinguished the flame of her ambition.

Back in November 2016 Ee Wei was on the podium at the World Junior Championships. At 16 she was the youngest medalist and was recognised as a rising star. Her badminton training had begun at her local club when she was 7 and by the time she was 13 her life revolved around practice and schoolwork at the Bukit Jalil Sports School. By 2018 she was part of the national squad and with Pearly Tan won silver at Asian and World Junior Championships in the Girls Doubles, everything was looking good.

Then everything stalled. Chronic sinusitis required surgery but afterwards it was impossible to balance effective recovery with national training. Reluctantly she had to take the long view, so quit the team and ended her partnership with Pearly.

She refused to give up. For a while she trained independently so she could control the pace of her work and her tournament schedule. Eventually returning to the national team in 2020 only to be knocked off course again by the global pandemic and the movement restrictions. For months she endured training with no tournament to aim for; all the while battling isolation and a low mood. She had hit a dead end.

XD coach Paulus threw her a lifeline. He suggested she switch disciplines and as the world was learning to live with Covid she was paired with Choong Hon Jain and together they won the 2021 Polish Open followed by two more titles. Just as it seemed like she was getting some career momentum another blow: bone tuberculosis. Weeks of hospital treatment meant there were times she was too ill to walk.

Her comeback in 2022 made her dig deep within herself. She had to rebuild her muscle and refine her skills. She fought her way into the world top 30 partnered with Chan Peng Soon then Hoo Pang Ron. After a team reshuffle, just a few months before Olympic qualification, she was matched with Chen Tang Jie and maybe – far in the distance – destiny was starting to call her name.

Together they grew. They claimed the 2023 Orleans Masters then soon after they were part of Malaysia’s bronze winning Sudirman cup team. Successes meant they broke into the world top 10. There were still some setbacks but they kept going and secured a spot at the Paris Olympics.

The Olympics are always tough and for this pair Paris 2024 brought some triumphs but also frustration. They battled through the group phase and upset the world #2 but in the QF a desperate dive left her injured. She kept fighting but they fell short. I think that this experience drained them. The Olympics can be extraordinary in the way that it engages non-sports fans but that brings extra pressure. We have seen post-Olympic fatigue in plenty of athletes and in an article in the Star after in August 2024 she talked about trying to rediscover her playing rhythm and mental tiredness.

The partnership seemed subdued and six months later following a disappointing early exit from the All England they split in what coach Rexy described as a “tactical reset”. It was a brave call. The gamble was that the two athletes would realise that they were stronger together or else renew their focus in a new pairing.

In hindsight the split was an inspired decision. After significant clamour from fans and negotiations with coaches and officials they reformed. They had decided to take a chance to rebuild with a clean slate. They knew what they had to improve to stay together; not least communication and learn to focus on just the next point.

Back together but no sudden leap forward. Instead hard training to reframe their relationship. Rexy Mainaky observed that although he could see some encouraging signs it was time for them both to grow up and move on from their past difficulties. Although tournament results were failing to set the world alight they were starting to string wins together. Seeded 4 they arrived at the World Championships understanding that focus and mutual support was essential. Their coaches believed in them, the fans supported them and finally through a wonderful week their plans came together, only ending with gold medals around their necks at the top of the podium.

Today Ee Wei is more than just a world champion. She is proof that success is not about a smooth climb but about refusing to give up even when starting over seems impossible.

Most of this article was written by a big fan of Ee Wei – Lucy XU Fang Ning. I’d like to thank her for sharing her knowledge and giving me permission to post this shorter version of her original.

Lucy’s original article which covers Ee Wei’s journey in more detail is here https://xfnrandomname.blogspot.com/2024/07/toh-ee-wei-everyone-has-their-own-story.html?m=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabqTfL2AtH_3Ave74I79prd5XPI8cFAIPYoVQ5dYOn_KPleI6z1CDY3G_8_aem_TpEfeKALm1ub2aVDg_US8wor if you prefer the Chinese language version https://xfnrandomname.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-post.html?m=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZo0qeonDJKniUJl75RbiNS_8WizYhDKbDNL8udYYnPssgQt1gWtT_mlP0_aem_5XBl9wkJt568gCp6kFJuYQ

If you like reading about badminton there’s plenty on this website or you will find lots of interest on Rene Biaoli’s site too https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/

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Silver For Pearly & Thinaah on a Day When Malaysian Stars Shone Brightly.

What a remarkable World Championships this has been for Malaysian badminton. The athletes rose to the occasion with composure and brilliance, producing performances under unforgiving pressure. Their achievements offer not only moments to savour now, but also genuine reasons for optimism about the nation’s badminton future.

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan came to Paris as the second seeds, and they will leave with silver — a result that underlines just how far they have come. Their campaign has been nothing short of outstanding. By the time they stepped onto court for the final, Malaysian fans spirits were high as Chen and Toh had already secured the mixed doubles crown.

The opening game was unforgiving. A handful of errors proved costly, and the Chinese top seeds seized the initiative to close it out 21–14 with authority. For Pearly and Thinaah, the question was clear: did they possess the tactical clarity and mental steel to turn the contest around?

The second game was a battle of momentum, swinging one way and then the other as each pair sought control. Tan and Liu pressed hard for a straight-sets victory, while Pearly and Thinaah fought simply to stay alive. At 20–20 the match looked to be slipping from their grasp — yet with a smile and a deep breath they refused to yield. Their resolve was rewarded, and they snatched the game 22–20 to force a decider.

The deciding game crackled with intensity. All four players threw themselves into the contest, producing rallies of breathtaking quality punctuated by the occasional anxious error. Liu and Tan managed to stay a fraction in front, holding their nerve despite relentless Malaysian pressure. Pearly and Thinaah battled fiercely to the very end, but the final spark needed to unsettle the top seeds proved elusive.

The Chinese pair just managed to hold their nerve, taking the title in the 21–17 decider. Pearly and Thinaah will naturally feel some disappointment at missing out on the top prize, but a closer analysis shows how victory or defeat hinged on just a handful of points. Having emerged from injury setbacks and undeserved criticism, they can take pride in establishing themselves as a formidable pairing over the past few months. Today they proved that they belong amongst badminton’s elite.

If you enjoyed this take a look at Rene Biaoli’s blog https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/

Or you may like my archive article about one of the most inspiring Malaysian players GOH Jin Wei.

Pearly & Thinaah: What Happens Next?

Before we look forward to Paris 2024 let’s cast our minds back to Paris 2022 and the final of the Yonex French Open. Pearly & Thinaah had negotiated a tough run to the final beating Matsuyama/Shida in their QF and Baek/Lee in the SF and now they faced the Japanese pair Matsumoto and Nagahara. Over three big sets their will to win, their strategy and their fitness saw them grab the title, igniting anticipation from fans for the years ahead.

2RW1KFF Hong Kong, China. 15th Sep, 2023. Pearly Tan, Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia.
(Credit Image: © Ben Lau/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire) From Alamy

It’s interesting to remember the challenges Thinaah faced leading up to the tournament; training solo while Pearly recovered from a hamstring injury. Injuries and the risk of injury poses a significant obstacle to this pair’s progress. Since winning Gold at the Commonwealth Games in August 2022 and their later victory in Paris later that year consistently maintaining peak fitness has been a struggle. Beyond the impact upon tournament participation, it disrupts training and overall progression.

WD at the Tokyo Olympics was probably the last hurrah for the “War of Attrition” style. Greysia Polii excelled at endurance, and she stepped on court with experience of the Olympics . T&T’s style could be seen as the natural antidote to long rallies. At their most effective they bring a fizzy counterpoint to the court. Thinaah gives a good foundation to the pair with her defensive vision. Pearly is liberated to use her creativity and go hunting for points.

However, their recent match at BATC against the Indonesian pair Mayasari/Sugiarto was marked by mistakes and hesitancy suggesting they haven’t hit their stride yet in the journey to Olympic qualification. Perhaps the fear of injury has tempered their style and relish for competition.

It’s vital that they avoid stagnating. Reports suggest that Rexy Mainaky has arranged for them to spar with men in training recognizing a gap in standards with the other WD. Lately they have seemed a bit vulnerable to sustained attack – lacking the strategic resilience to break their opponent’s rhythm. Intensified training may offer a solution to this and bolster their competitive edge.

Olympic expectations were high when they were ranked at 5 at the start of 2023. They have slipped a little, but they haven’t suddenly become bad players. They lost their momentum owing to injury so now – if they can both stay fit- there is still time to arrive in Paris with a renewed optimism. Their path to the Olympics has been full of difficulties so far. Yet with resilience and determination, the support of coaches and fans they can step on court to chase their dreams.

If you’re a fan of Malaysian Badminton take a look at https://shuttlehard.com/ and also https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/ .

Thanks to Rene Biaoli and the vast community of Malaysian Badminton fans for observations and shared ideas.

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GOH Jin Wei

Three years after winning gold at the World Junior Championships for the second time GOH Jin Wei hung up her racket in Sept 2021 aged just 21. One of Malaysia’s most promising young players had cut her career short leaving fans and coaches wondering what might have been.

She embarked on a professional career in 2013 and was soon acknowledged as a potential superstar. Just like Akane Yamaguchi – another World Junior Champion – she was unhampered by her diminutive height. Her speed and agility formed a great platform for a dynamic style that forced mistakes and made her into a difficult opponent.

It turned out that her biggest challenge was not a rival she had faced across the net, instead she was having to confront serious health issues which forced her to step away from the courts. The effect on her body of a total colectomy was huge and despite her efforts to minimise the impact of the surgery and the side effects of her medication eventually she had to accept that she was too unwell to handle the demanding training regime at the National centre.

Although GJW had quit the national set up she hadn’t completely walked away from badminton . In fact, by giving herself space she was beginning to see a way forward to manage her health and resume competition. Going at her own pace was effective. She signed a professional contract with Kuala Lumpur Racket Club at the beginning of January 2022.

In a shocking turn of events, she was then issued with a back-dated two-year ban from competing in BWF tournaments. This paralleled the sanctions on LEE Zii Jia following his request to become an independent professional player. Observers were dismayed at the severity of the punishment for actions that in other walks of life would be completely legitimate. On appeal and after high level arbitration, by the end of January the ban was overturned.

After the disruption and emotional roller coaster of her ban she was finally able to focus on playing. She had an encouraging 2022, playing in tournaments from Wales to Bangladesh, gradually accruing points and thus higher ranking. She has fought her way into the top 32 which means that she can enter higher ranking tournaments and most importantly be more selective about what she enters. We see a similar approach from TAI Tzu Ying and Viktor Axelsen; the simple fact is that getting to a QF in these tournaments gets good points.

Following her recent European games concerns have been raised by commentators about her susceptibility to injury, highlighting the need for her to continue to work on her physical resilience. However, it is crucial to look at her performances considering her surgery and the meagre diet she subsists on. In fact, if games are scheduled at an unfavourable time of day, it’s likely that she will be competing on an empty stomach with only fluids for sustenance. I think she is still searching for ways to mitigate the impact this has on her training and recovery.

The Olympic qualifying period begins in May 2023 and she is eyeing the possibility of competing in Paris with optimism bolstered by a renewed sponsorship from Li-Ning. Her journey has been full of obstacles but her determination to overcome these challenges is remarkable. Undoubtedly she is an exceptional athlete with an unwavering dedication to badminton.

GJW has a great YOUTube channel. If you are interested in finding out more about her life then check it out.

If you enjoyed reading this then you may like this article abbout LEE Zii Jia https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/03/25/lee-zii-jias-european-tour-2023/

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LEE Zii Jia

Fans have been banging the drum about Zii Jia’s potential for years and in 2021 with his triumph at the All England there was a feeling that he had truly cemented his place as one of the best MS in the world. During 2022 the maverick talent that is LEE Zii Jia has been on an intense roller coaster. Supporters have relished sweet victories against a background of severe challenges and ferocious criticism.

LZJ is a thrilling athlete to watch on court. His attack-minded approach is electrifying as he has the raw power to overwhelm all but the best defences. His great racket skills allow him to execute the orthodox strokes but also liberate him to use his distinctive shots too. Best known of course is his backhand smash with pirouette. Backhand with added ballet is a showstopper; the velocity that the shuttle attains as it flies cross-court is sensational. It could be risky: he has his back to his opponent, he must regain balance quickly and it goes cross-court, but its effectiveness is obvious. He loves to get angles and pace working to undo adversaries.

His more unorthodox shots are at the heart of his authentic badminton self. His jumping net kill seems an unnecessary use of energy – why jump? But his control at the net can often open up his opportunities to hit hard. His unique style of jump smash really does seem to give him something extra. I spotted he was not fully following through with his racket arm but there is more to his action than that. Some commentators liken it to a volleyball-style spike and there does seem to be similarities in the way that body weight is used to generate power. The bottom line is that the menace and strength he can summon up are fearsome.

He faced a huge risk to his career when he chose to become an independent player. He offered his resignation to BAM in mid-January and sparked a furore that ran out of control and threatened his future in the game. His decision to sever ties with his country’s badminton association initially led to a two-year ban and the prospect of a dazzling career destroyed became real for a time.

Thankfully, after an uncomfortable stalemate, they brokered a compromise, and he continued on his path. It was a bold step that mirrored Viktor Axelsen’s split from Badminton Denmark a few months earlier. Axelsen observed that players must do what is best for themselves. Everyone knows that these two players have been nurtured by their home associations from an early age and it is notable that they are world #1 and #3 with an identical goal of Olympic Gold in Paris 2024.

Fan’s opinions of his best matches invariably highlight Malaysia’s 2022 Thomas Cup campaign. Zii Jia was dynamite in his games. He demolished Momota in ¾ of an hour to lay the foundation for his team to top their group. In the QF against India, Lakshya Sen could not contain him after losing a tight first set and was dispatched in the second. May 2022 saw him hit a purple patch with the Gold medal at the Badminton Asia Championships, and the title at the Thailand Open.

His rivalry with Axelsen often inspires his best performances. At the Indonesia Open this year, his battle with Viktor in the SF is regarded as the game of the tournament. The All England SF in 2020 was a heavy-duty clash over 3 sets in which the Dane eventually won; the return fixture the following year in the 2021 All-England Final was a different story and proved Zii Jia’s progress. An extraordinary first set was secured 30-29, set two lost 20-22 but LZJ won his first Super 1000 title in the third. Attack, stamina, and mental strength got him to the top of the podium. This dual has a way to unfold yet.

He wasn’t at his best at the recent World Championships – citing injury and stress – but there’s no doubt that he will arrive in Europe refreshed and refocused ready to claim more points towards his goal of being World #2 by the end of the year. Planning training sessions with Viktor and Anders Antonsen is a declaration of intent from an ambitious competitor. Provided he is not overburdened by expectations there are no limits to the results his maverick brilliance could achieve. This is a player who can hear history calling.

If you enjoyed this, then take a look at my article about PearThin https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2021/11/21/pearly-tan-thinaah-muralitharan/

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