Pei Tty: Pearly-Thinaah were not created in a day

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly appointed national women’s doubles coach Wong Pei Tty emphasised that Malaysia’s elite pairing of Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah did not instantly materialise. She implored for patience in her endeavour to nurture Malaysia’s forthcoming top pairs. Pei Tty has returned to BAM to support women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak, following her stint as Singapore’s junior head coach last year.

As the badminton community urges the discovery of the next Pearly-Thinaah, the Olympic silver medallist of 2025 urged that emerging combinations need ample time to mature. Pei Tty said the journey to reach Pearly-Thinaah’s level spanned a four-to-five-year program. The world-class duo was not conjured in a day, but rather the culmination of intensive development.

During her inaugural training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia, Pei Tty stressed the importance of fairness towards other pairs. The two players who have only surfaced in the past one or two years require more time to reach their full potential. International exposure is vital for young players as it aids in identifying areas needing improvement, such as speed, power, attack, and technical skills.

Pearly-Thinaah must confront these shortcomings to enhance their game. Pei Tty expressed the necessity of gauging the current pairs' abilities, as most are participating in the China Masters in Shenzhen and the Malaysia International Series in Ipoh. On her first day, Pei Tty acknowledged the potential of the emerging talent but stressed that building a robust pool of top doubles players remains her primary focus, prioritising development over immediate results.