Tough draw but Nova hopes Chen-Toh will go extra mile in Finals

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are simply insatiable.

This positive trait in them, says head coach Nova Widianto, will be the driving force in their fight to be prominent in their debut World Tour Finals starting today in Hangzhou.

The Finals offers a staggering US$2.5mil (RM11.7mil).

World No. 10 Tang Jie-Ee Wei have been drawn in Group A with China’s Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping, Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan, and Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

They have to finish as the top two pairs to qualify for the semi-finals.

In Group B are China’s Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong, Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet, South Koreans Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung and Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun.

Whether Group A or B, it will be tough for Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who have qualified for the top eight as the weakest pair.

Nova’s expectation on them is simple – he just wants them to go the full distance.

“I’ve coached this pair for a year now and one of the positive traits that I see in them is that they are never satisfied with their current results.

“They always want more and do better than before,” said Nova.

“I had expected this draw. It would have been tough in either group anyway.

“All I hope to see is for them to bring out their maximum performances. I believe they can.”

It will be equally tight in the men’s doubles for former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.

They duo have been drawn in the same Group A with China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang, Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi and Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.

On paper, it looks arduous as it’s hard to beat the Chinese pairs at home.

Aaron-Wooi Yik have failed to clear the group stage in the last three attempts but are hoping to end their luckless run in Hangzhou. n MEN’S SINGLES

Group A: Kodai Naraoka (Jpn), Shi Yuqi (Chn), Anthony Ginting (Ina), Viktor Axelsen (Den).

Group B: Jonatan Christie (Ina), Anders Antonsen (Den), Li Shifeng (Chn), Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha).

MEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn), Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas), Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi (Chn), Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jpn).

Group B: Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina), Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae (Kor), Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den), Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina).

WOMEN’S SINGLES

Group A: An Se-young (Kor), Tai Tzu-ying (Tpe), Kim Ga-eun (Kor), Gregoria Mariska (Ina).

Group B: Chen Yufei (Chn), Carolina Marin (Spa), Han Yue (Chn), Zhang Beiwen (US).

WOMEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn), Mayu Matsutomo-Wakana Nagahara (Jpn), Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia (Ina), Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn).

Group B: Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor), Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn), Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor), Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha).

MIXED DOUBLES

Group A: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn), Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (Jpn), Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (Mas), Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha).

Group B: Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn), Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung (Kor), Kim Won-ho-Jeong Na-eun (Kor), Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg).