LETTER | World champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei put up a spirited display to down World No 1-ranked Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping 22-24, 22-19, 21-17 in the semi-finals of the China Masters Tournament at the Shenzhen Arena. 

The pulsating match lasted 80 energy-sapping minutes.

The landmark victory was one to be savoured, as the Great Wall of Chinese dominance was finally breached. 

Despite the heartbreak of losing the first set that went into deuce, the Malaysian mixed doubles pair displayed great tenacity and mental strength to overcome their more illustrious opponents in three sets before a partisan home crowd.

This is what all Malaysian badminton fans always want from our shuttlers; not to be overawed and intimidated by the occasion, but to be fighting tooth and nail till the very end with their much-favoured opponents. To win in their own den makes the victory even sweeter.

Many a time, we have witnessed our Malaysian players winning the first set of a game and then fizzling away. The mental strength and staying power were simply not there. 

It is good to see that Chen and Toh have added this vital weapon of mental strength to their armoury during their clashes against their opponents.

Things will only become rosier for them with proper guidance, and they should be a force to be reckoned with in the world circuit.

Just as when Dr Roger Bannister broke the psychological four-minute barrier running the mile, the floodgates were opened for more runners to surpass it, the scaling of the Great Wall by Chen and Toh will only give the confidence to more of our Malaysian mixed doubles counterparts to perform likewise. 

Malaysia can rest assured that the mixed doubles discipline is well taken care of for a while.

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