Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are hoping a return to full fitness can help them make a stronger push for an Asian Games medal after a difficult period affected by injuries and inconsistent results.
Pearly’s recurring back problem has disrupted the pair’s progress since they made history by winning silver at the 2022 World Championships. Now fully recovered for the past few weeks, the Malaysian is determined to make the most of their opportunity in Aichi-Nagoya.
“Actually, I don't expect too much because of my on-and-off injuries. I've only just been fully recovered for a few weeks,” Pearly said.
The pair’s recent results have been mixed. They finished runners-up at the Super 300 Taiwan Open before suffering a surprise second-round defeat at the China Masters last week.
Rather than dwell on those setbacks, Pearly and Thinaah have used the time since returning from China to work on rebuilding their rhythm and confidence.
“After returning from the China Masters, this past week we've really been giving 100 per cent every day to improve, and to slowly rediscover our rhythm, our play, and our gameplay,” Pearly said.
Thinaah said their preparations for the Asian Games began immediately after returning from the China Masters, with the pair focused on improving their performance rather than making predictions about their medal chances.
That approach is understandable given the strength of the women’s doubles field. However, Pearly and Thinaah have already shown that they can compete with the world’s best, having recorded victories over top-four combinations including Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee and Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian.
The Asian Games will also give the Malaysians a chance to put their disappointment from the 2023 Hangzhou edition behind them. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals on that occasion and will be hoping to go further this time.
Malaysia has set a target of six gold medals for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, while badminton is expected to play an important role in the country’s medal ambitions. For Pearly and Thinaah, however, the focus is simply on producing their best badminton when the tournament begins.
“I think anything is possible, that's what we believe,” Thinaah said.
A medal would also end a long wait for Malaysia in the Asian Games women’s doubles event. The last Malaysian pair to stand on the podium was Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei, who won bronze in 2014.
With Pearly now back to full fitness, the duo will be hoping their renewed preparation can translate into a deep run in Aichi-Nagoya.
“We just want to do our best, and we don't want to have any regrets on the court,” Pearly said.
