Malaysian women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan and M.Thinaah has provided a much needed boost to the national badminton at the All England Championship after securing a hard fought victory over Taiwanese pair Teng Chun Hsun and Yang Chun Yun. The world No.5 pair fought back from a game down to get a score of 19-21, 21-15,21-13 win in 51 minutes at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Their triumph comes as a bright spot for Malaysia, following a disappointing opening round that saw multiple national players crashing out of the tournament. Pearly and Thinaah’s victory marks their second consecutive win over the world No.55 pair and keeps Malaysia’s hopes alive in the women’s double game.
Despite their win Pearly and Thinaah admitted that their performance was not up to their expectations. The duo acknowledge they will need to step up their game when they face Indonesia’s Aprizani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Ramadhanti in the last 16.
“We’re happy with the win, but not entirely satisfied with our performance today, we could have done better. We’ll review the match with our coaches, learn from it and ensure we’re fully prepared for the next round”, said Thinaah.
Pearly emphasized the importance of clear communication between them, a crucial aspect in their effort to have consistency,
“There were a lot of ups and downs, but we really wanted to regain our momentum. So we kept communicating, both with each other and with our coaches. That was key to our strategy and gameplay”, she said.
A Challenging Season with High Expectations
Pearly and Thinaah began their 2024 season on a strong note, reaching semi finals of the India Open and finishing runners up at the Indonesia Masters. However, their recent performance at Orleans Masters saw them bow out in the quarter finals, adding pressure to their All England Championship game. Their next match will be the test of their resilience as they face the Indonesian duo.
A Boost from Malaysian Fans
One of the factors that lifted the pair’s spirits was the overwhelming support from Malaysian fans in Birmingham. Pearly expressed her gratitude,
“The crowd’s support made a huge difference, especially during the tight moments. It really boosted our confidence on court”.
With Malaysia’s hopes now higher on their performance, Pearly and Thinaah aim to deliver a stronger game in their next match. Their ability to improve will be the key as they look to advance deeper into the tournament.
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