Combination Chen Kangle/Tina won their first victory in women doubles Group A at the Paris Olympics
Jayce
Paris Olympics women’s doubles “Group of Death” match, the Malaysian pair Chen Kangle and Tina showcased an outstanding performance to win their first match, demonstrating remarkable resilience and team spirit. After the match, they spoke to reporters, sharing their experiences and strategies.
The Malaysian duo triumphed over Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida with scores of 18-21, 21-15, and 21-16. In another match within the same group, China’s top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan defeated Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu 21-12, 24-22, achieving their second consecutive win and leading the group, though they have yet to secure their advancement.
With two consecutive losses, Rahayu/Ramadhanti are effectively out of contention. Both the Malaysian pair and Matsuyama/Shida have one win and one loss each. In the final round, Chen/Jia will face Matsuyama/Shida, while Chen Kangle/Tina will compete against Rahayu/Ramadhanti. If Chen/Jia and Chen/Tina win, both pairs will advance. If Matsuyama/Shida and Chen/Tina win, three pairs will have two wins and one loss, leading to a tiebreaker. Similarly, if Matsuyama/Shida and Chen/Tina lose, three pairs will have one win and two losses, necessitating a tiebreaker to determine the second advancing team.
After the match, the Malaysian duo expressed their excitement: “Of course, we are very happy to win our first match on such a big stage, but there is still one more match to go, so we want to stay grounded and focus on the next match.” Despite their initial success, they remain calm and aware of the challenges ahead.
Tina mentioned that they took positive lessons from their loss the previous day and decided to play without pressure, giving their best effort to enjoy the game. “We played like we had nothing to lose and enjoyed every point. I think that really helped us today,” Tina said. This positive mindset was undoubtedly a key factor in their victory.
Reflecting on their match against Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, despite the loss, Kangle gained confidence and positive energy. She said, “I think it helped a lot because we really supported each other. Even if one of us was struggling, the other would provide support.” Their unity was crucial in today’s match.
While pleased with today’s performance, Tina also acknowledged areas for improvement: “Satisfied, of course, but there are still areas to improve. So now we just want to rest well and then focus on the next match.” Clearly, Tina is not only happy with the win but also constantly striving for better performance.
When asked about how they adjusted after losing the first game, Kangle mentioned, “I think the main thing was patience. From the first game, I think when we were leading, we wanted to get some easy points and extend the lead. But that made things worse. So in the second game, we reminded each other to be more patient and enjoy the rallies.” This strategic adjustment helped them secure victories in the second and deciding games.
