Pearly-Thinaah plan to stick as a pair through thick and thin

February 18, 2024

By – Thiruselvam

Pearly-Thinaah plan to stick as a pair through thick and thin — Downcast: Pearly Tan (left) and M. Thinaah react after losing a point to Indonesia’s Lanny Tria Mayasari-Ribka Sugiarto in the Asia Team Championships at Setia Alam Convention Centre. Inset: Rexy Mainky says the two will stay on as a pair despite their poor run of form. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

Tough times don’t last, but women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah need to find it within themselves to see through the rough stint they are in.

Pressure is mounting for the world No. 14 pair with the Paris Olympics looms around the corner, but their performance in recent tournaments has not exuded confidence but the duo are determined to stay put as a pair.

Pearly-Thinaah suffered another low yesterday as the women’s team crashed out of the Asia Team Championships after losing 3-0 to Indonesia in the quarter-finals at the Setia Alam Convention Centre.

The duo lost 14-21, 21-18, 15-21 to unheralded Lanny Tria-Ribka Sugiarto and failed to level the score.

Earlier, K. Letshanaa went down 12-21, 21-18, 13-21 to Putri Kusuma.

Hope was on Wong Ling Ching to turn the tide but she lost 21-14, 15-21, 16-21 to Ester Nurumi.

Pearly said it would be back to the drawing board for them, admitting that their play style has been stagnant in recent matches.

“We will go back and discuss on what other game plans we can use because not all the plans we implemented suited our style,” said Pearly.

“But we will fight together to come out of this as a pair.”

Thinaah added that their opponents found ways to pierce through their strategy.

“Our opponents had already read our game and we didn’t have any different responses to counter them, plus we were inconsistent in the match,” said Thinaah.

“It’s not that we couldn’t fight back, but they were much more consistent and aggressive with their shots while we made mistakes.”

Although the women’s team could not replicate their previous Asia Team Championships run when they reached the semi-finals in 2022, youngster Letshanaa is relishing her outing at the meet for the first time.

“Mentally she won the game, I gave it my best but the match was tough,” said the world No, 57.

“I’m sad I couldn’t deliver a point for the team, but every match I’ve played is against a top player, and the new experience has given me lots to take away.”

Indonesia will face Thailand today in the semi-finals while Japan will meet India for a place in the final.

Source – THE STAR