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What a remarkable World Championships this has been for Malaysian badminton. The athletes rose to the occasion with composure and brilliance, producing performances under unforgiving pressure. Their achievements offer not only moments to savour now, but also genuine reasons for optimism about the nation’s badminton future.
Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan came to Paris as the second seeds, and they will leave with silver — a result that underlines just how far they have come. Their campaign has been nothing short of outstanding. By the time they stepped onto court for the final, Malaysian fans spirits were high as Chen and Toh had already secured the mixed doubles crown.
The opening game was unforgiving. A handful of errors proved costly, and the Chinese top seeds seized the initiative to close it out 21–14 with authority. For Pearly and Thinaah, the question was clear: did they possess the tactical clarity and mental steel to turn the contest around?
The second game was a battle of momentum, swinging one way and then the other as each pair sought control. Tan and Liu pressed hard for a straight-sets victory, while Pearly and Thinaah fought simply to stay alive. At 20–20 the match looked to be slipping from their grasp — yet with a smile and a deep breath they refused to yield. Their resolve was rewarded, and they snatched the game 22–20 to force a decider.
The deciding game crackled with intensity. All four players threw themselves into the contest, producing rallies of breathtaking quality punctuated by the occasional anxious error. Liu and Tan managed to stay a fraction in front, holding their nerve despite relentless Malaysian pressure. Pearly and Thinaah battled fiercely to the very end, but the final spark needed to unsettle the top seeds proved elusive.
The Chinese pair just managed to hold their nerve, taking the title in the 21–17 decider. Pearly and Thinaah will naturally feel some disappointment at missing out on the top prize, but a closer analysis shows how victory or defeat hinged on just a handful of points. Having emerged from injury setbacks and undeserved criticism, they can take pride in establishing themselves as a formidable pairing over the past few months. Today they proved that they belong amongst badminton’s elite.
If you enjoyed this take a look at Rene Biaoli’s blog https://badmintoniacs.wordpress.com/
Or you may like my archive article about one of the most inspiring Malaysian players GOH Jin Wei.
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Amanda Bloss All Rights Reserved
