On Malaysia’s 68th Merdeka Day, the nation found a new reason to cheer — not from parades or fireworks, but from Paris. Inside the Adidas Arena, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei rose to the occasion and carved their names into history, becoming Malaysia’s first-ever mixed doubles world champions.
The world No. 4 duo delivered a fearless performance, sweeping aside China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin 21-15, 21-14 in straight games. With that, they sealed Malaysia’s second World Championships crown ever, after Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s breakthrough in 2022.
For Tang Jie and Ee Wei, the gold medal was more than just a win — it was redemption, vindication, and the fulfillment of a dream that once seemed so far away.
“I can’t even put into words what I feel right now,” said Tang Jie, overwhelmed with emotion. “I’m just glad people can finally call us world champions.”
Ee Wei echoed his joy: “Winning the World Championships means that title stays with you forever. Playing on Merdeka with so many Malaysian fans in the crowd gave us so much strength. It felt like the whole country was with us on court.”
Their journey was far from easy. Just five months ago, the pair had split after a disappointing run at the All England, uncertain if their partnership had a future. But reunited, they turned doubt into determination and fought their way back stronger than ever.
Along the way, they silenced the home crowd by toppling French favourites Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the semi-finals. In the final, the pair nicknamed the “Gangster Duo” — known for their flamboyant hairstyles and fiery spirit — showed nerves of steel against the Chinese second seeds, powering their way to glory.
For Tang Jie, 27, the triumph was the payoff after years of grinding to break into badminton’s elite. For Ee Wei, 24, it was the sweetest reward after battling health setbacks and even stepping away from the sport for a time. Together, they proved that resilience and belief can rewrite destinies.
And on this Merdeka, they gave Malaysia more than just a medal — they gave the nation a story of hope, grit, and the joy of finally conquering a stage that had eluded us for so long.
