Paris 2024: Pearly-Thinaah victorious in fight against opponents, own selves

PARIS - Surviving the 'group of death' against some of the world’s top shuttlers in an Olympics debut, is not an obstacle that everyone can prevail, but national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah accomplished that mission.

The world number 13 staged two major upsets against top 10 pairs in the Paris 2024 Olympics Group A, to cruise into the quarter-finals at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena here.

Pearly-Thinaah, who lost to China’s world champions Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan on Saturday, bounced back to pull off a pleasant surprise by beating two-time world champions Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara from Japan on Sunday.

In a do-or-die mission against world number nine, Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti today, Pearly-Thinaah stunned the Indonesians 21-18, 21-9 to secure their place in the last eight stage, thus becoming only the second Malaysian pair to advance to the Olympics quarter-finals after Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei’s feat in Rio 2016.

Apriyani is reigning champion, who triumphed to victory in Tokyo 2020 with previous partner Greysia Polii.

Commenting on the level of pressure and stress the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games champions had to endure for the match, Pearly said the fight was not just against Apriyani-Siti Fadia, but against their own selves as well.

"Knowing this is a must win game, it was really, really tough mentally because we needed to be more consistent and calm. We did simple mistakes in the first set that we shouldn’t have, especially me.

"I was nervous and had some pressure because I really wanted to win the match. But Thinaah beside me calmed me down, supported me, so these are the main things I overcame and really very happy for the win,” she said.

Thinaah added that, the duo were in stress since yesterday thinking of the match, knowing that it was a must win match for the survival of both the Malaysian and Indonesian pairs in the Olympics.

"This match was the worst (in terms of pressure) because it was a really crucial match for both of us, as we know the results from the other match (China beat Japan), so it was a must win. Bringing that pressure into court is really a different feeling from what we have encountered, so this is a new feeling and experience for both of us.

"We always comfort each other in such situations, I think that is what is most important as a pair. Sometimes one person will be nervous while another calm, and vice versa or both not in good condition, but how we bring back the confidence is crucial,” she said.

Having survived the group of death, Pearly-Thinaah hopes to continue the momentum in the knock-out stage to begin on Thursday, while focusing on their recovery.

The draw for the quarter-finals would be held after the conclusion of all group fixtures.

As Group A runners up, Pearly-Thinaah will be drawn to face one of the group champions, except Group A winners Qing Chen-Yi Fan in the quarter-finals. - BERNAMA