
Badminton stars Tang Jie and Yi Fan's 88.8 per cent 'love match'
Photos and videos of Tang Jie and Yi Fan appearing together at a recent official event have gone viral, setting social media abuzz with speculation about a possible romance between the mixed doubles shuttler and the Chinese women's doubles ace.
Neither has commented publicly, but that hasn't stopped online sleuths from launching full-blown investigations, analysing emojis, interpreting glances, and even claiming there's an "88.8 per cent chance" the rumours are true.
Adding fuel to the fire, netizens cheekily weighed in with playful jabs.
"Not bad. Soon Malaysia will have more women coaches," one user quipped, a nod to the growing trend of Malaysian male shuttlers forming close friendships with foreign female players.
Others joked this could be a new "strategy" to help recruit international talent into the national fold.
But amid the memes and mockery, some fans have called for restraint.
"Whatever their status, what matters is their performance on court. Gossip doesn't earn ranking points," one commenter posted.
On the competitive front, both players fell short of reaching the final at the Japan Open.Tang Jie and his mixed doubles partner Toh Ee Wei lost in the semi-finals to China's world No. 2 pair Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin.
Yi Fan, who plays women's doubles with Zhang Shu Xian, also bowed out in the semis, losing to eventual champions Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.
Badminton has seen its fair share of high-profile romances.
Among Malaysia's most famous are Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datin Wong Mew Choo, and current mixed pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai.
Last month, Malaysian doubles ace Ong Yew Sin tied the knot with former Japanese singles star Aya Ohori.
Other international love matches include Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, Chen Long and Wang Shixian (both China), Alan Budi Kusuma and Susi Susanti (Indonesia), and Chris and Gabrielle Adcock (England).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
China Open: Malaysia Assured Of Men's Doubles Semis Ticket
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia are assured of a place in the men's doubles semi-finals of the 2025 China Open Badminton Championships after Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun checked into the last eight today. World number seven Wei Chong-Kai Wun edged compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 17-21, 21-17, 21-19 in 56 minutes in the second round at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou. Their reward is an all-Malaysian quarter-final against Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, after the national number one pair sent French siblings Christo Popov-Toma Junior Popov packing 21-17, 21-18.


The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysian referee Nazmi Nasaruddin to officiate at FIFA U-20 World Cup
MALAYSIAN referee Muhammad Nazmi Nasaruddin has been appointed to officiate at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025 in Chile, scheduled from September 27 to October 19. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed the selection, alongside assistant referees Muhammad Zairul Khalil Tan and Mohamad Mu'azi Zainal Abidin. FAM expressed pride in the trio's achievement, stating, 'We want to congratulate the trio and wish them all the best in carrying out their duties at the championship. FAM's top leadership also wants to thank FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for their faith in Malaysian referees.' Nazmi's selection follows his earlier recognition as a FIFA World Cup Candidate 2026, positioning him as a potential main referee for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He also holds the distinction of being the first Malaysian referee to oversee an Asian Champions League (ACL) match using VAR technology. - Bernama


New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun face off in all-Malaysian quarter-final
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will go head-to-head with compatriots and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in an explosive all-Malaysian quarter-final clash at the China Open on Friday — guaranteeing the country a spot in the men's doubles semi-finals. Wei Chong-Kai Wun booked their place in the last eight after battling past compatriots and world No. 25 Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 17-21, 21-17, 21-19 in a tense 57-minute encounter in Changzhou on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Aaron-Wooi Yik saw off France's world No. 20 Christo-Toma Junior Popov 21-17, 21-18 to set up the mouthwatering domestic showdown. The quarter-final will be a rematch of the Malaysia Masters final in May, where Wei Chong-Kai Wun stunned the Olympic bronze medallists to lift the Super 500 crown. The two pairs have met six times on the World Tour, with honours even at three wins apiece. The Popov brothers gave Aaron-Wooi Yik a nervy start and led 15-10 in the opening game, but the Malaysians raised their tempo to wrest back control. "We increased our tempo and speed when the Frenchmen were leading, after we realised we couldn't dominate the front court," said Wooi Yik. "It's a good lesson for us, and we also need to adapt to the draught in the hall more quickly ahead of the quarter-final." Malaysia will have a third men's doubles pair in the quarter-finals — world No. 28 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who will take on India's world No. 12 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty on Friday.