National mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto has expressed concern over the on-court communication between Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, as the world No. 4 pair prepare for a critical run of tournaments.
While Nova remains satisfied with the technical level of their game, he emphasised the need to improve their verbal coordination during matches — an area that previously led to a brief split between the duo earlier this year.
“They are technically strong, and they can match the world’s best. But communication remains the key issue,” said Nova, ahead of the upcoming Japan Open (July 15-20) and China Open (July 22-27) — two major events leading into the World Championships in Paris (Aug 25-31).
The pair had a promising start to the year with semi-final appearances at the Malaysia Open and India Open, but a first-round exit at the All England in March exposed underlying tensions. The pair briefly parted ways before reuniting for the Singapore Open in late May, where they exited in the second round. They most recently reached the semi-finals at the Indonesia Open in June.
Nova now hopes Tang Jie and Ee Wei can claim at least one title before the World Championships to build confidence.
“These two tournaments are important for them. I hope they can win one title to gain momentum,” he said. “I’m focusing more on the non-technical aspects of their game, especially communication.”
He also acknowledged that expectations are growing, as mixed doubles remains the only category yet to deliver a title for Malaysia this season.
Meanwhile, badminton fans eager to watch Tang Jie and Ee Wei’s journey live can now do so via “LiveBad 羽球直播”, a new Telegram group offering live streams, updates, and scores for major tournaments.
Fans can also enjoy the matches while engaging with trusted sportsbook platform Nova88, which provides real-time odds and coverage for every major badminton event.
