Malaysian badminton star M. Thinaah has put friendship ahead of competition, choosing to miss the Korea Open to attend the wedding of her longtime best friend, Cheah Yee See, in Bali.
The tournament began this week in Yeosu City, but Thinaah decided to travel to the Indonesian island to celebrate Yee See’s marriage to national mixed doubles coach Teo Kok Siang on Sunday.
Sharing her happiness on Facebook, Thinaah said she would not have missed the occasion, regardless of the distance or cost.
She also expressed her gratitude for being able to witness the special moment, congratulating the newlyweds and wishing them happiness as they begin their life together.
Thinaah and Yee See previously played together in the national setup before Yee See moved to independent play in 2022. Meanwhile, Kok Siang had his first coaching stint with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) during Yee See’s time in the national squad.
Several familiar faces from Malaysian badminton were also present at the wedding, including national mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, as well as mixed doubles player Lim Chiew Sien, who had previously trained under Kok Siang during his independent coaching career.
Shevon also shared her wishes for the couple on social media, describing the occasion as a beautiful love story and hoping their relationship would remain strong through life's challenges.
While Thinaah’s absence meant missing an international tournament, the occasion gave her the chance to celebrate an important milestone with someone who has been part of her journey in badminton.
