Raring to go: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will be making their first SEA Games appearance.
PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak believes the target of four gold medals set by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for the Thailand SEA Games is realistic.
One of the gold is expected to come from the women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who are heading for the biennial Games starting tomorrow as the world meet runners-up and ranked second in the world.
The duo are also in peak form, having just clinched the Japan Masters title last month.
Rosman acknowledged the expectations set on the women’s pair.
“I think it is fair. Based on the rankings, it is justified. For Pearly and Thinaah, it is not just the SEA Games, we face high expectations in other tournaments as well,” said Rosman before departing for Bangkok yesterday.
“We accept that, but we do not let it become pressure. We treat it as a normal routine for them.”
Interestingly, despite representing the country for quite some time, this will be Pearly and Thinaah’s first appearance at the SEA Games.
“It is certainly an added motivation because they said they have never played at the SEA Games before. Making their debut at the Games will surely ignite their fighting spirit,” added Rosman.
Initially, BAM, through national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky, announced a safer target of two gold medals.
However, the latest announcement from president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz on Thursday called for medals in all seven badminton events contested, with four of them expected to be gold.
The other golds are likely to come from the men’s doubles, mixed doubles, and men’s team events.
