Tang Jie-Wen Tse win reunion match at Arctic Open in Finland

Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse made a winning return as a pair on Tuesday, beating compatriots Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing 21-15, 21-16 in the first round of the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland. They completed the match in 35 minutes.

It was their first tournament together this season. BAM has been exploring partnership options for Tang Jie while his regular partner, Toh Ee Wei, recovers from an ACL injury that is expected to keep her out for a lengthy period.

Reunion passes a tough first test

Pang Ron and Pei Jing had reached the Macau Open semi-finals in June and finished runners-up at last month’s China Masters. They had been enjoying a strong run of form.

The partnership is not entirely new. Tang Jie and Wen Tse combined twice last year when BAM experimented with alternative pairings. Their first outing together took them to the Taiwan Open semi-finals, but they exited the Malaysia Masters in the first round.

Wen Tse has now been given another opportunity alongside Tang Jie as BAM considers its options during Ee Wei’s rehabilitation. Their victory in Vantaa came in straight games, and their next opponents will present a tougher test.

Other pairs record mixed results

Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin also progressed to the Arctic Open second round. They beat Sweden’s Oscar Reuterhall and Nathalie Wang 21-12, 21-16 in their opening match.

Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien did not advance. They lost to China’s fifth seeds Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, who won 21-15, 21-18.

China’s top seeds await

Tang Jie and Wen Tse will next face China’s top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. The Chinese pair reached the second round with a 21-11, 21-9 victory over Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Cecilie Kudsk.

For Tang Jie and Wen Tse, it is the next step after a successful return to competition together while Ee Wei remains sidelined.