National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto has expressed optimism about newcomer Jimmy Wong’s attitude and character as the pair prepares for the Malaysia Masters, scheduled from May 19 to 24 at the Unifi Arena. Jimmy, who joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last month after previously competing as an independent player, will make his debut alongside new partner Cheng Su Yin.

The 24-year-old Jimmy earned his place in the national team following a successful previous season in which he and former partner Lai Pei Jing finished as runners-up in seven international tournaments. This upcoming tournament marks Jimmy’s first outing with Cheng, who previously played with Hoo Pang Ron before his departure from BAM to rejoin Lai Pei Jing.

Coach Nova emphasized the importance of allowing the new partnership time to develop, cautioning against placing immediate expectations on the duo. “It’s not easy for a newly formed combination to immediately produce results or perform at their maximum level,” Nova said. He noted that while the pair shows promise in training, the initial focus is on building chemistry rather than targeting early victories.

Following the Malaysia Masters, Jimmy and Cheng will continue their partnership at the Singapore Open from May 26 to 31. Nova intends to use both tournaments to assess how they measure up against the world’s top 30 mixed doubles pairs.

Jimmy has stated his ambition to secure a title, although he acknowledges that the competition will be fierce. The mixed doubles field at the Malaysia Masters features several strong contenders, including world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, world No. 9 Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, Thailand’s No. 3 pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran, China’s No. 6 team Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui, as well as the Danish pair Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje, currently ranked seventh in the world.

As Jimmy and Cheng embark on their new partnership, the upcoming tournaments will serve as critical testing grounds for the duo’s potential to compete at the highest level.