PETALING JAYA: A day after shuttler M. Thinaah wrote a tribute to her women’s doubles partner Pearly Tan, the latter replied to the social post, thanking her for making her dreams of representing Malaysia at the Olympics come true.
Tan noted that while they did not start off as badminton partners, she was proud that they were able to work out misunderstandings and struggles together as a team, learning about “the true meaning of perseverance and partnership.”
“Sorry for always being sick and injured for these few years and leaving you alone to pick up the pieces. It has been a struggle but glad that you are by my side.
“The last few weeks before the Olympics have been challenging but we have gotten through it and have always found strength in each other,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
“The obstacles we’ve overcome, from the physical challenges, to the mental battles, have only made us stronger. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right?” she wrote.
Tan added that the bond and memories she and Thinaah shared were worth more than any medals.
“Without you, my dream to be at the Olympics will never come true… Thank you for being my partner and my best friend. Together we can conquer everything,” Tan wrote in a post, which received over 22,000 reactions on Facebook.
Many of their fans, including those overseas, were touched by the message and expressed hope that the duo would return to the next Olympic games stronger and better.
On Saturday (Aug 3), the pair went up against world No. 4 Japan’s Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida, but lost 11-21, 11-21 in a 41-minute bronze medal match at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle.
