KUALA LUMPUR: Coaching Director Rexy Mainaky has no doubt that national top mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have what it takes to compete for a podium finish at the Paris Olympics.
Rexy's confidence stems from the unpredictable nature of past Olympic editions, marked by numerous surprising outcomes.
Taking the Taiwanese duo Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin as an example, they swiftly ascended from mid-ranked competitors to become Olympic champions in Tokyo within a short span of two years.
However, the most astonishing storyline from the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, who emerged seemingly out of nowhere to finish fourth in the men's singles event.
Paired up in late 2022, Tang Jie-Ee Wei took just 12 months to establish themselves as the world's top 10 pair. They are now the world No. 9.
This achievement was highlighted by two World Tour Super 300 victories at the Taiwan Open and Orleans Masters.
Additionally, they reached the semi-finals in prestigious tournaments such as the China Open, Singapore Open, Arctic Open, and Korea Masters.
They have also beaten all the world's top five pairs except for China's world No. 1 Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong.
"Based on their overall performance on the World Tour last year, I believe they stand a chance to contend for a medal at the Olympics," said Rexy.
'The Olympics, as we know, even for someone like myself with experience as a player, have always witnessed plenty of surprises.
"Some players we did not consider as contenders have gone on to win gold medals, as seen with the Taiwanese pair (Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin).
"'Hence, for Tang Jie-Ee Wei, if they continue to trend in the right direction and remain injury-free, I am optimistic that they will head to the Olympics as medal contenders."
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will seek to underline their credentials with a fine performance at the Malaysia Open next week.
They will kick off the Super 1000 tournament with a tricky clash against Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue of France.
Last year, in just their third tournament together as a pair, they managed to reach the quarter-finals before being ousted by Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.