Latest news with #ZhenBang-YaXin
New Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Soon Huat-Shevon prepare for speed test at China Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran mixed doubles Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai are once again preparing to cope with the searing pace of world-class rivals as they bid to break their quarter-final curse at the China Open, which starts on Tuesday. The world No. 6 have crashed out at the quarter-final stage in six of their last seven tournaments, with the latest setback coming in a straight-games defeat (21-13, 23-21) to eventual champions Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin of China at the Japan Open on Friday. While they won't face the in-form Zhen Bang-Ya Xin until the semi-finals this week, the Malaysians must first overcome a likely quarter-final clash against world No. 3 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong. "They (Zhen Bang-Ya Xin) have a clear advantage over us in terms of speed," said Soon Huat. "Every time we face them, we prepare physically and mentally to cope with that kind of speed. It's very hard to find opponents with that pace to train against daily, so it's actually good to play them regularly. "It was also our first time reaching the Japan Open quarter-finals, and we're hoping to build on that." The Chinese pair's blistering pace has helped them establish an 8-1 head-to-head lead over Soon Huat-Shevon. The Malaysians also trail in records against other top combinations — world No. 1 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping of China (2-0), Chun Man-Ying Suet (11-1), and Thailand's world No. 5 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran (5-3). Now aged 35 and 32 respectively, Soon Huat and Shevon may have lost some reflex sharpness, but they still hold the edge over most younger pairs. The Malaysians are expected to beat Indonesia's world No. 14 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu in their opening match on Wednesday, before a potential second-round clash with Denmark's world No. 21 Mads Vestergaard-Christine Busch. Meanwhile, Toh Ee Wei has declared herself fit after taking a knock from partner Chen Tang Jie's racquet during their semi-final defeat to Zhen Bang-Ya Xin in Japan. "My hand is good, thanks for all the support. We're on the way to China," she posted on TikTok on Sunday. National coaching director Rexy Mainaky also confirmed Ee Wei's fitness. "She just felt some pain at the point of impact, but she's fine now and good to go." Tang Jie-Ee Wei will begin their China Open campaign against American pair Presley Smith-Jennie Gai (world No. 29) on Tuesday. World No. 13 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin will be out to snap a run of four first-round exits when they face China's world No. 44 Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying. Independent pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien (No. 34) will take on India's world No. 33 Rohan Kapoor-Shivani Gadde.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'It's almost impossible to emulate their feat' [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: China's world No. 1 mixed doubles Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin have admitted that their legendary former teammates Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong are irreplaceable. Although Zhen Bang-Ya Xin feel that the current Chinese pairs are still ahead of their rivals, emulating 2024 Olympic champions Si Wei-Ya Qiong, who retired after winning the World Tour Finals in December, appears almost impossible. Zhen Bang-Yai Xin will meet world No. 2 Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in an all-China final at the Axiata Arena tomorrow. Zhen Bang-Ya Xin defeated their 11th-ranked compatriots Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi 15-21, 22-20, 21-19 in the last four while Yan Zhe-Dong Ping thrashed Taiwan's world No. 23 Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzalez Chan 21-10, 21-7. "Si Wei-Ya Qiong have set the bar so high that it is almost impossible to emulate their feat," said Ya Xin. "We (Chinese pairs) are currently ahead of our rivals but I don't think we can match Si Wei-Ya Qiong as they are the best ever in mixed doubles."
Barnama
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
World No. 1 Mixed Doubles Pair Zheng Bang-Ya Xin Still On Learning Curve
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 (Bernama) -- They may be perched atop the Badminton World Federation (BWF) world rankings in mixed doubles, but for China's Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, it's clear that heavy is the head that wears the crown as their journey is only just beginning. Ya Xin, 25, believes they are still some distance away from reaching the elite standard set by their seniors Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong, who retired after winning the World Tour Finals last December. Three-time world champions and Paris 2024 gold medallists Si Wei and Ya Qiong are regarded as one of the most dominant and iconic pairs in badminton history. 'They definitely represent the highest level in mixed doubles. I mean their entire mixed doubles record is glorious and I think we're always trying to catch up to them... actually, there's still a big gap between us and them. 'Whether it's maturity and understanding or communication... perhaps, their strongest point is that when they face difficulties, they trust each other even more,' Ya Xin told reporters after their hard-fought 15-21, 22-20, 21-19 mixed doubles semi-final win over their seventh-seeded compatriots Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi in the ongoing Malaysia Masters Badminton Championships at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, today. Ya Xin also believes the internal competition among China's mixed doubles pairs has proven to be healthy as they are constantly learning from one another. 'For instance, with us, sister (2020 Tokyo Olympics mixed doubles gold medallist) Huang Dong Ping will also come and teach us. I think we have a very good, healthy and competitive relationship,' she said. Tomorrow's Malaysia Masters mixed doubles final will be an all-China affair, with world number one Zhen Bang-Ya Xin taking on world number two Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping. Judging by their head-to-head record, things do not look good for Zhen Bang-Ya Xin as they have lost nine out of 11 matches against Yan Zhe-Dong Ping, who cruised to a 21-10, 21-7 victory over Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Gonzales Chan in the other semi-final.
