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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.

Arctic Open Gold for LEE Zii Jia

An all-Malaysian MS final at the Arctic open brought us the lip-smacking prospect of Spicy Chicken versus the Mushroom – or, for those less versed in Chinese nicknames: LEE Zii Jia against NG Tze Yong. This clash not only promised an enthralling match for the neutral fan but was also an exciting advert for the depth of talent in the Malaysian team. In this high-stakes battle both players needed Gold but only one could stand at the top of the podium when Negaraku played.

2T08EMJ Hangzhou, China’s Zhejiang Province. 5th Oct, 2023. Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia competes against Prannoy Haseena Sunil Kumar of India during the Men’s Singles Quarterfinal of Badminton at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 5, 2023. Credit: Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua/Alamy Live News

The tenacious progress of NTY since his superb performances at the last Commonwealth Games – including his dispatch of Viktor Axelsen at this year’s All England – reveal a player who is poised to challenge the best in the world. In contrast, LZJ has weathered a very up-and-down year and suffered an excess of unnecessary media scrutiny as a result. Nevertheless, he’s in the process of refining his game; cultivating patience and cutting errors. Game on!

Set 1: Advantage Lee Zii Jia 21-14

With a smash speed consistently higher than 410kph LZJ went full throttle courtesy of an unwilling green light from NTY. Tze Yong struggled to contain Zii Jia’s aggressive accuracy and was sucked into a reactive game that stopped him from getting any sort of foothold in the first set. It was all over in 16 minutes.

Set 2

NG Tze Yong found himself bulldozed by the sheer brutality of LEE Zii Jia’s game. Usually, he can remain composed and counter an onslaught but today he struggled for ideas against his compatriot. In the blink of an eye LZJ had charged into a 5-0 lead; he was completely dominant and enjoying the flow of his game. We only saw fleeting glimpses of what NTY is capable of. He fought to claw his way back into the match but could not halt the progress of LEE Zii Jia to a well-deserved Gold 21-15.

LEE Zii Jia came to the match planning to give Ng Tze Yong no chance to breath. It was a tough 39 minutes for NTY but his progress to the final showed his impressive growth. Meanwhile, Lee Zii Jia’s relentless attacking prowess was an exhilarating sight. What an exciting day for fans of the two players.

Edit: The two of them were actually on the podium to Queen’s We Are The Champions. I think the ‘We’ is appropriate!

If you enjoyed this then take a look at one from my archives about LZJ https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/07/29/lee-zii-jia-and-plan-b/

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LEE Zii Jia: Reasons to be Cheerful

LEE Zii Jia’s run of good results at the Australian Open came to an end in a three set SF with WENG Hong Yang. What are the top takeaways from this tournament for him and his fans?

2J6ETN3 (220501) — MANILA, May 1, 2022 (Xinhua) — Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia poses for photos during the awarding ceremony for the men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2022 in Manila, the Philippines, May 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

As Team LZJ embarked on their flight to Sydney last week it was crucial that Coach WONG and Darren Liew supported their player. Amidst the gale of media criticism that often swirls around him, they had to embody the eye of the storm, giving tactical analysis and unwavering confidence in his ability to overcome his challenges.

Before the competition began – after a dismal sequence of early exits – plus a hiatus to recharge and recalibrate, I think that the prospect of making the semi-final of a S500 tournament would have been a tantalizing glimpse of a brighter horizon.

As he took to the court to face fellow Malaysian LEONG Jun Hao in R32 the main worry was his recent habit of early exits stemming from a mix of impatience, good opponents, and bad luck. However, plot twist! This time he changed the script. The match did not begin particularly well: his play was marred by errors: his range was out, and he was misjudging the arena’s conditions. LJH took the first set, and an upset was on the cards. However, set two and a small improvement in his touch and some deceptive shots surfaced. He was tenacious and levelled to one set all. His momentum continued and with an impressive display of mental grit he got the victory in just over an hour.

R16 was another long three set match, this time against Indian national champion Mithun Manjunath. Zii Jia was more comfortable with the conditions, and noticeably better in the front court. While it was not a dazzling performance he rose to the challenge and was into his first Quarter Final for months. It was encouraging to see him find an extra gear at 16-16 in the final set. MM resisted and fought back hard but he could not break LZJ’s resolve.

And so, to another compatriot clash, this time against the ever-improving NG Tze Yong. Malaysian badminton fans are lucky to have two outstanding MS. NTY’s performances at the Commonwealth Games and at the All England this year showcased his tenacity and undemonstrative self-confidence. He is such a dogged, never-say-die competitor that it was imperative for LZJ to win in two if he had any hope of progression. Ominously he lost the first set and the second was balanced on a knife edge but Zii Jia would not yield, eventually taking it to extra points 26-24. It was heartening to see his surge of determination to get the match to a third set. The advantage was with him, and he took it 21-19.

Four early exits in a row before this tournament but this time he broke the pattern and reached the SF. After his defeat he revealed in an interview with the BWF that playing as an underdog had helped him. He can take so many positives from this week. Against WENG Hong Yang he showed a willingness to use his aggression to dominate the net; his movement was fluid, and his shots were sharp. Notably, he hasn’t journeyed deep into a tournament for so long and this will be great to improve his match stamina.

What can we expect in Copenhagen at the World Championships? Realistically the challenge continues to be consistency. However, with his team, he is working on the toolkit to transform himself into a better player. The journey is just beginning.

if you enjoyed this take a look at my article about LZJ and Coach Wong https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/07/29/lee-zii-jia-and-plan-b/

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LEE Zii Jia and Plan B

Now the challenge for Lee Zii Jia and his coaching team is to tap into his incredible talents and help him find his groove again.

2PFH65M Utilita Arena, Birmingham, UK. 17th Mar, 2023. 2023 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, Quarter Finals Day 4; Kodai NARAOKA versus LEE Zii Jia in the Mens Singles competition, LEE Zii Jia celebrates winning the match Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News

It is essential to keep a frustrating situation in perspective. Remember, not too long ago he was a top 3 seeded player -a testament to his talent and skill – it is crucial to acknowledge that he has not regressed into a sub-par player overnight. Like any athlete there are difficulties and the journey to peak performance can be arduous.

Bringing WONG Tat Meng on board as his coaching director is a statement of ambition. He has a great cv and a broad experience of nurturing players to reach their full potential all over the world. He has come home to Malaysia to use this expertise to strengthen LZJ for the challenges ahead.

And so – for now – we must regard LZJ as dynamic work in progress. He is desperate to show that his sweat on the practice court equals trophies on the show court, but it is a transformational process that has to evolve. He needs more routes to victory when he cannot blast his way past an opponent; so, by reworking his game to incorporate different options depending on the challenges of the match he will become a more resilient player.

WTM must unpick and analyse the elements of LZJ’s game that are not working. They have to refine and enhance. All this against the whirlwind of endless tournaments, unrelenting press pressure and his player’s self-criticism. So, he has identified his first priorities as: consistency, improving ranking and securing qualification for the Paris Olympics next year.

The World Championships are looming, and it is probable that he will be arriving in Copenhagen as an unseeded player. The important thing is not only how far he can advance through the rounds but also the trajectory of his metamorphosis. Will he prolong rallies? What is going to happen to his unorthodox smash? Does he have the physical stamina to go deep into the draw after his recent early exits?

Sun Tzu said that victory comes from finding opportunities in problems. As I reflect on Lee Zii Jia, I firmly believe that he does have the mental agility to innovate and the grit to persevere through difficult times. Champions are not solely defined by victory but by their courage in defeat and determination to overcome any obstacle placed in their path. Triumph over adversity is the ultimate measure of greatness.

If you enjoyed this then take a look at my recent article about WS and the Fab Four https://womensbadminton.co.uk/2023/05/06/badmintons-fab-four-the-womens-singles-players-who-dominate-the-sport/

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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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Pearly Tan & Thinaah Muralitharan

2021 has been a breakout year for this young and exciting Malaysian pair. Their dynamism and tenacity have won them plenty of new fans over the past twelve months because they have been seriously challenging players ahead of them in the rankings

At the Indonesia Masters. Screengrab courtesy BWF

When they were at junior level, they were not WD partners unlike many of their current rivals. They have competitive familiarity across the sectors but the main factor significant to their current style of play is the influence of XD as the pair have both got experience in this discipline. Their bold approach to matches is refreshing and I sense that there is a shift happening away from the more traditional, old fashioned neutral play towards tactics that allow players to take the initiative in a match.

Their performance in the first round at the Toyota Thailand Open was an “aha moment” for fans and analysts. It was an exhilarating contest packed full of drama. After losing the first set they levelled then refused to concede the third. It was simply gripping. They were down 18-20, saved four match points and eventually won 27-25. It was an 87 minute white knuckle ride where they kept their focus and eventually earned victory.

As a pair they are keen to disrupt their rivals rhythms with intelligent use of angled shots. Thinaah has a strong front court game and both can unleash some power. Naturally they are good defenders but it’s the intensity and pace of their attack that enables them to seize command with flat drives and effectively screw down on their opponents.

Their first world tour title win at the 2021 Swiss Open was confirmation that they are on the right track. A straight set victory over the quintessence of defensive WD – the Stoeva sisters – felt like a shot of adrenaline to the heart of the discipline. It was proof that the partnership has raised their game over the past couple of years.

These two athletes are possible stars of the future and are part of the generational shift following Tokyo 2020. They still have a lot of hard work to do if they want to move up to the consistent standards set in Women’s Doubles by the Japanese pairs. It was revealing that in their recent Indonesian Master’s game against Matsuyama/Shida they were carried along by the momentum of the Japanese attack without really being able to derail it and they were beaten in two sets. They must have more tactical options if Plan A is not successful.

“You’ll see us fail, I guarantee it. But you will never see us quit”
Thinaah Muralitharan on her Instagram

It’s exciting to watch a pair with a fresh approach. They are ‘work in progress’ but they have the potential to keep moving up the rankings and can aim to be top 10 players. Their spirit and gritty resolve mean that they can frighten any opponent so they can regard the future with hope and optimism. I can’t wait to see how they meet the challenges of the next couple of years.

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Set 1: Advantage Lee Zii Jia 21-14

Set 2

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