KUALA LUMPUR: National coach Nova Widianto has warned mixed pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei against complacency, especially with the Paris Olympics looming.
Nova expressed his concerns after Tang Jie-Ee Wei crashed out in the second round of the Super 750 French Open on Thursday.
It was the world No. 9 pair's straight second-round exit after the Denmark Open.
According to Nova, Tang Jie-Ee Wei still have a long way to go.
"I don't think Tang Jie-Ee Wei are in a position to take things lightly. They have yet to qualify for the Olympics, so like it or not, they must play in tournaments," said Nova today.
"They have a one-week break before the Korea Masters, so I want to see them putting in the work.
On Thursday, Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who are seen as Malaysia's best bet to qualify for the Paris Games, bowed out of the French Open after losing 21-19, 21-15 to Hong Kong's Lee Chun Hei-Ng Tsz Yau.
Clearly disappointed with the result, Nova stressed that there were no excuses for their performance, and he dismissed the notion that playing in back-to-back tournaments was the issue.
"They didn't play well, nothing was working for them on the court.
"Every time they had an opportunity to move forward, they stumbled.
"Have they reached their limits due to participating in too many tournaments? I don't believe so.
Other shuttlers are also facing similar situations. This should not be used as an excuse," added Nova.
Each country is allowed a maximum of two pairs at the Olympics, provided both are in the top eight by April next year in the Road to Paris rankings.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei started the season well by winning three titles, including the Super 300 Orleans Masters in April and the Taiwan Open in June.
Even after the Asian Games in Hangzhou earlier this month, the Malaysian pair who only started playing together late last year, reached the semi-finals of the Super 500 Arctic Open in Finland.
Meanwhile, the Olympic dream is beginning to look very bleak for world No. 14 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and world No. 21 Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.
Both the independent pairs have suffered consecutive early round exits, and may even lose their spots in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.