Friendship Wins Despite 4th Place in 2024 Olympics Finish

Malaysian badminton stars Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan are not just catching the world’s eye for their incredible skills but also for their inspiring message of unity. Coming from different cultural backgrounds, Pearly and Thinaah represent Malaysia’s rich diversity, showing how teamwork and mutual respect play key roles in their success.

Background Story

Their story began as teenagers at the Bukit Jalil Sports School. Pearly, who was just 13, met Thinaah, two years older than her. Their shared passion for badminton quickly turned into a strong friendship and, later, a successful partnership when they teamed up in 2019. Pearly reflected, “Off court, we talk about our lives, our targets and that’s how we built this trust.”

Their path wasn’t always smooth. Thinaah nearly left badminton during a tough period but found new motivation when she started playing doubles with Pearly. This decision led them to notable successes, including their recent semifinal appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Celebrated Achievements

Throughout their careers, Pearly and Thinaah have achieved significant milestones. In 2016, they won both the Malaysia International and India International tournaments. By 2021, they triumphed at the Swiss Open Super 300 and ranked 5th in the BWF World Rankings. Their historic 2022 included becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles team to win the French Open and securing gold at the Commonwealth Games. In 2024, they made their Olympic debut in Paris, finishing 4th after losing to Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida.

Multilingual Communication on the Court

A unique feature of their partnership is their multilingual communication. Thinaah and Pearly speak Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin, and Tamil (Thinaah). During matches, they switch between these languages.

Thinaah mentioned that she tends to speak Mandarin more frequently during rallies. But during the break, she mixed three languages — English, Bahasa Melayu, and Chinese — thankful because Pearly understands all three. This ability helps them communicate better on the court and strengthens their bond.

Fighting Through Challenges as a Team

Thinaah recently expressed how thrilled she is with their progress, saying, “Honestly, I’m really happy. I never expected that we could make it this far, especially reaching the semifinals.” She emphasized how well they get along and how happy she feels. Their journey to the Paris Olympics 2024 semifinals was tough, with high-pressure matches against top teams.

Pearly noted that their teamwork helps them stay focused, sharing that they support each other through nervous moments, with one always there to encourage and comfort the other, which has been crucial in their performance.

Paris Olympics 2024

Despite their loss to world No. 4 Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in the fight for the bronze medal, their determination to play their best and seize every opportunity was evident and their partnership goes beyond sports.

It reflects Malaysia’s rich multicultural heritage, showing how their unity and diverse backgrounds have shaped their remarkable journey.

Watch the videos here:

Watch also: Pearly and Thinaah’s interviews featuring their multilingual skills.

@my100plus

👯‍♀️ Double trouble or double fun? We caught up with Pearly and Thinaah for a fun Q&A session and discovered their hilarious inside jokes, their go-to mamak order and how they shared their unwavering spirits as our national athletes ✨ Show your love for this dynamic duo and share your favorite Pearly-Thinaah moments in the comments! 🏸❤️ #malaysia #athlete #badminton #KIPID100 #KeepIt100 #MengejarImpianEmas #100PLUS

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