PETALING JAYA: Former women’s world squash champion Datuk Nicol Ann David has penned a heartfelt message to Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, whose gallant run in the Paris Olympics ended with defeat to Japan’s Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida on Saturday.
“Dear Thinaah and Pearly, I wish I could say something that could lift your spirits, but I know all too well losing is painful.
“I know exactly that heartbreaking feeling of defeat... and it’s a pain one can struggle to let go,” she said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Nicol said she learned that the duo only recently recovered from injuries.
“What I admire is that you have each other’s back and trust each other.
“The semifinal was brutal and you both put everything you had out there, everything to reach that final and poured yourselves out.
“I know that feeling of just pushing so hard and having nothing left, but nonetheless, you persevered and still fought your last match.
“What I can definitely say is that when things settle, you will be able to see things with different eyes and reflect with pride on what you accomplished,” said Nicol, who is Malaysia’s deputy chef de mission to the Paris Olympics.
She also lauded the duo for being the first Malaysian women’s pair to enter an Olympics badminton semifinal and “made world #1 pair (China’s Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan) tremble on their feet”.
“The journey has been absolutely beautiful, amazing and you both went through so many challenges the last two years and you’re Olympians and you made a whole country dream.
“You both showed what true sportsmanship is all about and that moment will forever define you. You both are legends because you showed Malaysia and the world what values you two are made of, and I for one can’t be more proud.
“I want to thank you for bringing so much happiness to my life this past week watching you play, I have nothing but a full heart that can burst with pride of the two amazing role models our nation has.
“I love you girls, and I hope we can cry together, laugh together and remember this as a victory forever in our hearts and minds,” Nicol said in her post.
Pearly-Thinaah went down fighting in the semi-finals to Qingchen-Yifan 12-21, 21-18, 15-21 and later lost 11-21, 11-21 to Matsuyama-Shida in the bronze medal match.
