KUALA LUMPUR – Pearly Tan’s injury during the Hong Kong Open final today may have dashed her and M. Thinaah’s dream of winning their first title of the season, but it has by no means dampened their determination to rise stronger.
Speaking to Scoop, the women’s doubles coach, Hoon Thien How, affirmed that Pearly’s injury was a result of the intense match and assured that it was not a grave concern.
“She only had to endure some light pain for a few minutes, and she recovered well to complete the rest of the game,” said Thien How.
“Her injury won’t hinder their progress, and our coaching team will work harder to enhance her strength and agility as they prepare for upcoming tournaments.”
A former men’s doubles player himself, who came close to clinching the 2014 Thomas Cup in New Delhi, Thien How added that the pair remain on the right path to compete in the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.
“The synergy within this pair is great, and they are eagerly anticipating the Asian Games.
“With two weeks to recuperate from today’s game, I’m proud of their performance.
“We’ll carry the positives back home and work on any shortcomings so that they can emerge victorious in China,” added Thien How.
In the face of adversity, Pearly and Thinaah have vowed to persistently work on self-improvement following their loss at the Super 500 event.
The 10th-ranked Malaysian duo suffered a hard-fought 21-14, 22-24, 9-21 defeat in a pulsating match against Indonesia’s top doubles pairing, Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, marking their third loss in five encounters.
“We feel really sad, but we’re taking this setback positively. We have come a long way and have regained our confidence,” Pearly told the BWF in a post-match interview.
Thinaah echoed her partner’s sentiments, emphasising the need for patience and a more aggressive approach.
“We lost crucial points due to our own mistakes. We’re determined to keep improving and return even stronger in our next tournament,” said Thinaah.
“Moreover, we’re thrilled to have regained our on-court confidence and are looking forward to enjoying the game even more.”
Throughout their journey in the Hong Kong Open, Pearly-Thinaah played a total of 260 minutes, including a gruelling 73-minute showdown against Indonesia’s top-seeded pair in the final.
With their sights set on the upcoming Asiad campaign kicking off on October 3, they aspire to surpass their nation’s best achievement in women’s doubles, which dates back to the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, when Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei secured a bronze medal. — September 17, 2023