PETALING JAYA: The Sudirman Cup is a perfect platform for Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah to settle a score.
Pearly-Thinaah can make a difference in the tie against India in Group C at the world mixed team event in Suzhou, China, from May 14-2.
Malaysia and India are in the same group with Taiwan and Australia.
Only the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals.
Shock loss: Pearly Tan (back) and M. Thinaah lost to India’s Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand in the group stage match at the Asian Mixed Team Championships in Dubai in February.
India seem to have better memories in team events against Malaysia in recent times.
The men’s team defeated Malaysia in the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup en route to winning the trophy last year while Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand pulled off an upset against Pearly-Thinaah in a crucial match that saw Malaysia losing the tie 1-4 in the group stage of the Asian Mixed Team Championships in Dubai in February.
The outcome of the tie in Suzhou will depend very much on Pearly’s condition.
She withdrew from the recent Asian Championships in Dubai due to illness but national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky is pleased with her recovery so far.
“Pearly is in a very good condition and in good spirits too,” said Rexy.
On the match-up against the Indian girls, Rexy said: “For now, let Pearly and Thinaah just focus on their training and preparation. We will analyse their game (the defeat) against the Indians at the Asian meet in Dubai.”
Rexy is also delighted with the team bonding during a closed door three-day camp in Rawang for the Sudirman Cup team.
None of them were allowed to bring their handphones.
“Every member of the team was involved and it was good. I saw great effort from everyone, it’s nice to see the team camaraderie,” added Rexy.
Team unity is vital for Malaysia to clear the group stage as both India and Taiwan have equal strength to create upsets and advance to the last eight.
Besides Pearly-Thinaah, the others in the Sudirman Cup team are men’s singles aces Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong; women’s singles players Goh Jin Wei, K. Letshanaa; men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi; women’s doubles pairs Valeree Siow-Go Pei Kee; and mixed doubles pairs Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, and Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
