M. Thinaah and Pearly Tan - Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttler M. Thinaah paid tribute to partner Pearly Tan in a heartfelt social media post on Sunday (Aug 4).
Pearly-Thinaah had struggled for form and confidence for the past year but showed great fighting spirit to turn it around in their debut Olympics in Paris.
The world No. 12 stunned several higher ranked pairs to become the first women's doubles duo from Malaysia to reach the Olympics semi-finals before going down to Japan's world No. 4 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida in the bronze medal playoff match on Saturday (Aug 3).
The 26-year-old Thinaah has opened up on her struggles with Pearly, 24 and how they came together to overcome all and win the hearts of Malaysian fans with their battling show in Paris.
"Pearly, without you I wouldn't be here on the biggest stage of every athletes' dream, the Olympic Games," said Thinaah.
"Just before the Olympics, you have struggled with sickness and injuries. We only trained together for 1 and a half weeks before flying to France to begin our training camp.
"I kept telling myself to stay strong even though there were times I felt helpless training without you. Even during the camp, we had misunderstandings and I just wanted to be done with the Olympics and go back home.
"But once we arrived in the village, I felt different and the feeling was indescribable. We did have awkward moments but once the competition started, we were ONE.
"We had each other throughout the games, throughout every single rally. There was not one point where I didn't feel motivated.
"Who would have imagined that the both of us could reach the semi-finals of the Olympics after seeing we were grouped in the Group of Death. To be playing till the last day of the Games.
"The sleepless nights in the village, the pressure in every match, because if we lose one, we would have been out. These things were the one that challenged us. Not our physical, it was our mental. Point by point we made it this far.
"I know going home without a medal is very disappointing but we also have to praise ourselves because not everyone will be there during our worse moments but we will always have each other. Only we know what we went through.
"So, I want to take this time to thank you for being there for me all the time and sorry for disappointing you at times.
"I don't know what the future holds and what will happen in the coming four years until the next Olympics but I'm grateful and happy that I can share this precious moment with you.
"The things we kept reminding each other throughout the games was to enjoy every single rally in the court, appreciate every second in court.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much, Pearly," added Thinaah.
