Pearly back on track, eyes Asiad redemption with Thinaah

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton star Pearly Tan, the current world No. 5, has fully recovered from her back injury and is ready to fight for a medal at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games alongside her partner M. Thinaah. The duo, who previously won a silver at the Paris World Championships, have been struggling to regain their previous form and confidence due to Pearly's recurring back injury.

Their best performance in the past five months was a runner-up finish at the Super 300 Taiwan Open in August. Since returning from the China Masters, the pair have been working tirelessly to improve and rediscover their rhythm and gameplay. Pearly admitted that she doesn't expect much due to her injuries but is committed to giving her best.

Thinaah, on the other hand, is taking a practical approach by avoiding predictions about their medal chances and focusing on regaining their true form. With only six gold medals targeted for Malaysia in Japan, badminton has an outside chance of delivering a gold despite the strong field. Both athletes emphasized their determination to do their best and not have any regrets on the court.