Shipshape: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in action during training. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Six months of sparring with the Indonesian boys has done a world of good for Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.
The duo believe they are in their best shape for their first Olympics stint.
World No. 13 Pearly-Thinaah have been training with four former Indonesian doubles players since February to sharpen their attacking play.
In fact, these boys will also join them for their two-week training camp in Paris.
Thinaah said the quality sessions have helped them to develop variety in their game.
“Each of them have different characteristics. It has really helped us learn and adapt to an even wider range of game plays and tactics because of their different playing styles,” said Thinaah.
The four are Ade Yusuf, Gerardo Rizqullah, Rian Swastedian and Alfian Firsada.
Ade was ranked world No. 16 with Wahyu Nayaka in 2015 while Gerardo is the nephew to the late Markis Kido, who won the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold with Hendra Setiawan.
Rian was the mixed doubles champion with Masita Mahmudin at the 2015 Vietnam International Series tournament and Alfian Firsada played with Alwi Mahardika before he stopped playing in 2017.
“It was good to play with these players because they are so different and I learnt to vary my game and focus more on how to face players with tricky attacking shots.”
Pearly is looking positive.
“We are currently giving our best at training sessions. We have regained our rhythm just like how we performed at the Indonesian Open.”
At the Indonesian Open in June, the pair gave a good fight before bowing out 20-22, 18-21 to world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan of China in the quarter-finals.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky believed Pearly-Thinaah can give top pairs like Qingchen-Yifan and South Korea’s world No. 2 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee following the training with the Indonesians.
“The quality sparring will help them to give a courageous fight against these top pairs,” said Rexy.
He extended his gratitude to the Road to Gold (RTG) committee for accommodating his request for the sparring players.
“I highly appreciate RTG’s support for they have allowed us to do what we want in terms of training for the badminton athletes.
“They have given a 100% of their effort and now it is up to the players to deliver their best performance in the arena.”
