BIRMINGHAM – Wresting back the gold medal in the mixed team event in their 3-1 defeat of champions India at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games not only means a lot to the national badminton squad, but also to Malaysians in general.
National women’s doubles player M. Thinaah, who partnered with Pearly Tan to contribute the third point and confirm the return of the gold medal to Malaysia, dedicated last night’s glorious achievement to Malaysians who have never tired of supporting the national squad over the years.
Pearly-Thinaah defeated Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, 21-18, 21-17, helping Malaysia avenge their 1-3 loss to India in the final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Thinaah, however, refused to be swayed by the success at Hall 5 of the National Exhibition Centre, saying that she now wants to focus on the women’s doubles event with Pearly after this.
“I think we just hope to get our momentum back and start anew in the women’s doubles event,” she told reporters after the medal presentation ceremony.
Pearly also said that the leg injury she suffered at the end of the second set was not serious and that she could return to action to hunt for a medal in the women’s doubles event.
Last night’s achievement not only increased the country’s gold tally at the quadrennial Games to three so far, but also strengthened Malaysia’s status as the most successful country in the mixed team event with four golds since it was first contested at the 2002 Manchester edition. – Bernama, August 3, 2022
