KUALA LUMPUR: A friend in need is a friend indeed. That perfectly describes the unwavering support shown by M. Thinaah for her women’s doubles partner Pearly Tan, who suffered an injury during their All England second-round clash against Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti on Thursday (March 13).
Pearly-Thinaah were on the brink of victory when Pearly mistimed her landing after returning a shot, twisting her ankle.
Realising the gravity of the situation, Thinaah stepped up as a true partner, offering words of encouragement.
Her support proved crucial as Pearly found the strength to push through and secure a 21-16, 21-14 win over the Indonesian pair.
In a heartwarming moment after the match, Thinaah carried Pearly off the court to minimise any further strain on her injured leg.
“She just didn’t want to put more strain on her leg. I offered to carry her, and that was the least I could do to help,” said Thinaah.
Recalling the incident, Thinaah said Pearly is a fighter who never gives up easily.
“I think at the 14-7 point, we both went for the same shot. We didn’t hit each other, but she tried to avoid me, and her landing wasn’t right.
“I’m proud that she fought through it, and I tried my best to support and help her.
“We’re doing everything we can for her recovery. The physio and masseuse are helping us.
“Health is definitely the number one priority. No one wants to get injured. The first thing I asked her was how she was feeling, and she said she just needed a minute.
“At that moment, I knew deep down she wanted to continue playing because we had a significant lead.
“I couldn’t say much, so I told her, ‘It’s okay, if you want to play, we’ll go on,’ and I supported her all the way. If things got worse, then we would reassess.
“I have admired her ever since we started partnering. I know she is not one who easily gives up. So when she fell, it was not in her mind to (give a ) walkover or anything. I knew she wanted to stay on court and fight until the last point,” she added.
The medical team is monitoring Pearly’s condition as she and Thinaah are scheduled to compete on Friday (March 14) in the quarter-finals against third seeds Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.
Also in action in the quarter-finals are mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie, who will face China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Huang Dongping.
-TheStar