Former world No. 5 Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing will conclude their mixed doubles partnership at the All England (March 11-16) before Pei Jing begins a new chapter with young shuttler Jimmy Wong.
With Kian Meng, 31, set to retire, Pei Jing, 32, will pair up with Jimmy and debut at the Swiss Open (March 18-23), starting from the qualifying rounds. She will also continue competing in women’s doubles with Lim Chiew Sien in selected tournaments.
Kian Meng, who has struggled with injuries, expressed gratitude to Pei Jing for sticking with him despite his setbacks. “I had decided after the Malaysia Open that All England would be our last tournament together. My injuries were limiting our progress, and I hope she has a great career with Jimmy,” he said.
The duo, who partnered for nearly a decade, enjoyed several career highlights, including winning the 2022 Korea Open, their last major title. They also triumphed at the Vietnam and Thailand Opens (2016) and the Malaysia Masters (2017), while finishing runners-up in multiple tournaments, including the 2019 Singapore Open. They secured bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
As Kian Meng steps away from badminton to focus on his online business, Pei Jing looks ahead to a fresh start with Jimmy, hoping to build a successful new partnership.
