PETALING JAYA: One slapped with a dreaded draw. Another can breathe easy.
It was indeed a day of mixed fortunes for doubles pairs Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) released the draw for the Paris Olympics.
The badminton competition will be from July 27-Aug 5 at the Adidas Arena in Porte de la Chapelle.
World No. 13 women’s doubles duo Pearly-Thinaah will need to do it the hard way to reach the quarter-finals after they were pitted against China’s world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan, Japan’s world No. 6 Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara and Indonesia’s world No. 9 Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in Group A.
Only the top two pairs will progress to the last eight.
While Pearly-Thinaah will be forced to be on their toes right from the start, mixed pair Tang Jie-Ee Wei can thank their lucky stars after receiving a favourable draw.
The world No. 9 will play China’s world No. 2 Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping, Singapore’s world No. 18 Terry Hee-Jessica Tan and United States’ Vinson Chiu-Jennie Gai (No. 30).
While Yanzhe-Dongping will be the hot favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners, Tang Jie-Ee Wei have a golden opportunity to make it past the group at least in second place ahead of Terry-Jessica and Chiu-Gai.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky was optimistic about Tang Jie-Ee Wei’s chances but has warned them against overconfidence.
“Based on the draw, Tang Jie-Ee Wei have a good chance to get out of their group,” said Rexy.
“This is the Olympics though and there are no easy matches. They need to be well prepared both mentally and physically.”
Rexy then acknowledged that Pearly-Thinaah faced a tough task to survive their group but urged the pair to give their all.
“It will be tough for Pearly-Thinaah but they need to play like they have nothing to lose,” said Rexy.
“They need to realise that they cannot afford to rely on getting an easy group. They need to be ready to fight hard.
“On the positive side, if they manage to survive their group, it will boost their confidence in the quarter-finals.”
For the record, no women’s doubles pair from Malaysia have ever won a medal in the Olympics while 2016 Rio de Janeiro silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are the sole mixed pair to secure a podium finish for the country.
