SHUTTLERS Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah’s impressive journey in the Paris Olympic Games was interrupted when they lost to world No. 1 Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan in the semi-finals at Porte de La Chapelle Arena today.
They lost 12-21, 21-18, 15-21, marking their seventh defeat in eight matches against the Chinese pair. However, they displayed great fighting spirit after a disastrous first game.
Ranked world No. 13, Pearly-Thinaah will now compete for the bronze medal against the losers of the second semi-final match between Tan Ning-Liu Sheng Shu of China and Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida of Japan.
Expectations were high that Pearly-Thinaah might pull off an upset and reach the final, especially after scoring an emphatic 21-12, 21-13 over Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong of South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Moreover, Pearly-Thinaah had narrowly lost to Qingchen-Yifan in a Group A match last Saturday, with scores of 17-21 and 20-22.
Malaysia has been yearning for a breakthrough, having never won a gold medal in the Olympics since participating in the 1956 Melbourne Games, 68 years ago.
Although Pearly-Thinaah lost in the semi-finals today, they have made history as the first Malaysian women’s doubles to qualify for the last four of the competition, surpassing Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei’s quarter-final effort in Rio de Janeiro 2016.
Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, the state executive councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, praised them for their never-say-die attitude.
He said the women’s doubles pair of Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, the men’s doubles pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, and the men’s singles player, Lee Zii Jia, have all performed admirably.
“We are very happy for our shuttlers. This is a great morale boost for Malaysia. We extend our gratitude to all Malaysians who prayed for and supported our athletes in the Olympics,” Gooi said when met at the 26th Penang Teaching Conference for General Practitioners at Bayview Hotel Penang this morning.
He also commended Penangite Goh Jin Wei even though she did not reach the last 16.
“We saw how hard she fought, and we believe that the upcoming tournaments will showcase even better performances. This was her first Olympics, and we are proud of her efforts,” Gooi said.
Penang Badminton Association president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak, who is currently in the Paris Olympics, said he was extremely glad that Jin Wei gave her all in the tournament.
“She fought hard and gave world No. 17 Kim Ga Eun of South Korea a run for her money in the group stage. I see a bright future for her,” Kah said in a phone interview.
Making her first appearance in the Olympics, Jin Wei opened her Group H campaign with a 23-21, 21-11 victory over South Africa’s Johanita Scholtz. She subsequently lost to Ga-eun 17-21, 22-20, 21-23 in a decisive group match for a spot in the last 16.
Story by Christopher Tan & K.H. Ong