Goh Liu Ying, the first female Malaysian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympic Games, says Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah can inspire a new generation of women players for the national team after reaching the semifinals of the Paris Olympics women’s doubles tournament.
The Malaysian shuttlers suffered a 21-11, 21-11 defeat to Japanese duo Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena this evening in the playoff for the bronze medal.
Despite the defeat, their efforts in becoming the first national women’s pair to reach the semifinals means they have broken new ground.
Only three female Malaysian athletes had previously won medals at the Olympics. Diver Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg was the first when she won the bronze in the 10m platform in London in 2012.
Four years later, Pandelela partnered Cheong Jun Hoong to a silver medal in the women’s 10m platform synchronised event in Rio de Janeiro. Goh won a silver with Chan Peng Soo in the badminton mixed doubles event at the same Olympics.
Goh said Tan and Thinaah’s exploits in Paris will open the eyes of people to the potential of the women’s team.
“We must admit the men have better results compared to the women’s shuttlers,” said Goh, who reached a career-high No. 3 in the world rankings with Chan.
“Malaysia previously did not have formidable female national players, but I hope to see some changes after Paris.
“This women’s pair will start to change people’s minds. As our women players start to shine, I hope to see more female players join professional sports.”
Goh, now involved in organising sports events, said Tan and Thinaah’s performance would also be a confidence booster for junior players, and those in the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s Akademi Badminton Malaysia.
“The junior players can look up to their seniors and be confident that they too, can get to the top,” said Goh.
“Pearly and Thinaah have made history. I know they put in tremendous effort to be where they are.”
Meanwhile, tomorrow, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will look to defend their men’s doubles bronze medal when they face Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark.
In the men’s singles, Lee Zii Jia faces world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand for a place in the final.
Malaysia has won nine medals – six silver and three bronze – in badminton before the Paris Olympics. Datuk Lee Chong Wei has three silver medals in the men’s singles (2008, 2012, and 2016), with Goh and Chan, and men’s pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, also finishing runners-up in Rio.
The other silver came from Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock in the men’s doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The Sidek brothers – Razif and Jailani – won bronze in 1992, while younger brother Rashid added another bronze four years later. Chia-Soh won the other bronze in Tokyo at the last Games.
Main image: Olympic Council of Malaysia
