Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah may be the hot favourites for SEA Games gold, but the world No. 2 duo insist there will be no complacency as they shift their focus to the individual event in Pathum Thani.
The World Championships silver medallists survived a tough scare in the women’s team semi-finals, edging Indonesia’s Rachel Allesya–Febi Setianingrum 21-14, 17-21, 21-16.
Malaysia eventually lost the tie 2–3 and settled for bronze.
With the individual competition starting tomorrow, Pearly–Thinaah are wary of Indonesia’s fast-rising pairs, especially Rachel–Febi and Febriana Dwipuji–Meilysa Puspitasari, both newly-formed combinations who impressed by reaching the Australian Open final last month.
Febriana–Meilysa also displayed their threat by dismantling Toh Ee Wei–Go Pei Kee 21-10, 21-9 in the team event.
Thinaah admitted they must cut out simple mistakes:
“We made too many unforced errors in the second game. In the third, we reminded each other to focus on the basics. We just want to believe in ourselves and not think about pressure.”
The Malaysian duo are aiming to end the country’s 10-year wait for SEA Games women’s doubles gold — last won in 2015 by Amelia Alicia Anscelly–Soong Fie Choo.
