KUALA LUMPUR — National women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak has reiterated his focus on guiding Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite ongoing uncertainty over their contractual situation with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Maintaining a non-partisan stance, Rosman said his commitment to both his players and his employer remains unchanged, even as the duo continue to weigh up their future.
Speaking to reporters today, Rosman declined to speculate on how long the contract impasse will last but admitted the situation has created distractions that can affect the players’ mindset and performance.
For context, Scoop first reported in April that Pearly and Thinaah were considering going independent, with sources indicating they had requested a revised salary package on par with BAM’s top earners—reportedly around RM2 million annually. BAM later confirmed the former French Open champions had yet to sign new contracts after their previous deals expired in December last year.
Nevertheless, Pearly and Thinaah have been in impressive form over the past month under Rosman’s guidance. They won the Thailand Open, reached the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters, the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, and capped it off by reaching their maiden Super 1000 final at the Indonesia Open last week.
Now back in Malaysia, attention has shifted to whether the pair will remain with BAM or strike out on their own. Both parties are expected to have one final sit down discussion this week.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” said Rosman.
“But as I’ve said before, my role is to manage everything and stabilise the situation. There are two key things: they must train and turn up daily for training (at the Academy Badminton Malaysia).
“Our objective remains the same. Regardless of what decision is made, I don’t let it affect me. As long as they’re still training under me, I’ll give my best, just as I’ve always said,” added Rosman, who was reappointed by BAM for a third time late last year specifically to lead the women’s doubles department.
When asked if Pearly and Thinaah shared the same goals as he does, Rosman said: “Yes, because that’s why BAM brought me in. I stick to that objective—not just for Pearly and Thinaah, but for the whole women’s doubles team.
“So, as long as that objective stands, that’s where my focus will be.”
While Rosman stopped short of confirming anything, his comments subtly suggest Pearly and Thinaah may be inclined to stay on with the national body.
Despite their recent strong performances, Rosman remains grounded in his expectations.
“Hopefully, they can be more consistent moving forward. Every tournament comes with its own atmosphere, challenges and pressures, but I hope this current momentum continues—even if they haven’t won a Super 1000 title yet,” he said.
Pearly and Thinaah’s next major test will be at the Super 750 Japan Open next month. – June 10, 2025