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Time needed to reach Pearly-Thinaah standard
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Sports

Time needed to reach Pearly-Thinaah standard

From Utusan Malaysia · (5m ago) Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Malaysia's women's doubles badminton team has not yet reached the standard of top pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, according to national coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
  • Despite the gap, Mainaky believes the young squad has the potential to compete at the highest level, as evidenced by their quarter-final appearance at the Uber Cup, which met expectations.
  • Further development in mental strength and consistency over the next two years is crucial for the team to become stronger contenders on the world stage.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acknowledges that the current women's doubles pairs have yet to reach the elite level set by Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. National coaching director Rexy Mainaky stated that while the team's quarter-final finish at the Uber Cup was satisfactory given the young age of the players, there is still significant room for improvement.

It is too early for us to talk about reaching the level of Pearly-Thinaah, and we cannot look at just one tournament. But what they have done, we still need to translate in the next year, especially their mentality and mindset.

— Rexy MainakyAssessing the current state of Malaysia's women's doubles badminton team.

Mainaky emphasized that it is too early to expect immediate results comparable to the top pair. He noted that the players possess the fundamental skills but require more time to refine their mental fortitude and strategic thinking. The focus for the coming year will be on translating their existing abilities into consistent performances on the international stage.

Despite the challenges, the experience gained from competing against world-class opponents in high-intensity matches is invaluable. Kenneth Jonassen, BAM's singles coaching director, highlighted that the tournament provided players with crucial experience in decision-making under pressure and building mental resilience. This exposure is vital for their long-term development and ability to mature as players.

If you look at their style of play, they certainly have the ability to reach that level, but it will take more time because there are many things we need to improve.

— Rexy MainakyElaborating on the potential and areas for improvement in the team.

The Malaysian team's journey to the quarter-finals marked their best performance in 16 years, last achieving this feat in 2010. This historical context underscores the potential for growth and the significance of nurturing young talent within the national badminton program.

I think throughout this campaign, with the team spirit shown and the presence of an experienced captain like Thinaah, many of our players have gained a lot of experience, not only in terms of playing level but also in how to make more mature decisions on the court.

— Kenneth JonassenCommenting on the valuable experience gained by the players during the Uber Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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