Smashing Pearly-Thinaah deliver gold to help Malaysia surpass target

Women's doubles players M Thinaah (right) and Pearly Tan in action during the women's doubles final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games at the NEC Hall on Monday.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia surpassed their six gold medal target in the Commonwealth Games, thanks to a smashing show by women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.

A pumped up Pearly-Thinaah delivered the seventh gold in style on Monday (August 8) after crushing England's Lauren Smith-Chloe Birch 21-5, 21-8 in the final at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Malaysia were banking on badminton to surpass the target through Ng Tze Yong but he was unable to hit the mark after losing to Lakshya Sen of India in the men's singles in an earlier final.

However, Pearly-Thinaah, who were playing in the last final on the last day of the Commonwealth Games, remained rock solid and contributed Malaysia the seventh gold and a second in badminton.

Pearly-Thinaah also delivered the winning point in helping Malaysia beat India 3-1 in the mixed team final last week.

Malaysia's final medal tally stands at seven golds, eight silvers and eight bronze medals to occupy 10th spot in the standings.