Commonwealth Games: Thinaah dedicates mixed team gold to Malaysians

BIRMINGHAM: Wresting back the gold medal in the mixed team event by defeating defending champions India 3-1 at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games not only means a lot to the national badminton squad but also to Malaysians in general.

National women's doubles player, M.Thinaah who partnered Pearly Tan to contribute the third point thus confirming the gold medal returned to Malaysia, dedicated last night's glorious achievement to Malaysians who have never been tired of supporting the national squad over the years.

Pearly-Thinaah defeated Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, 21-18, 21-17, thus helping Malaysia avenge the 1-3 loss to India in the final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Thinaah, however, refused to be swayed by the success at Hall 5 of the National Exhibition Centre and instead wants to focus on the women's doubles event with Pearly after this.

"I think for now we just hope to get back to our momentum and start anew in the women's doubles event," she told reporters after the medal presentation ceremony.

In the meantime, Pearly disclosed that the leg injury she suffered at the end of the second set was not serious and that she could return to action to hunt for a medal in the women's doubles event.

Last night's achievement not only increased the country's gold tally at the quadrennial Games to three so far, but also strengthened Malaysia's status as the most successful country in the mixed team event with four golds since it was first contested at the 2002 Manchester edition.

-- BERNAMA