After the Paris Olympics, national women's doubles shuttler Thinaah Muralitharan shared an emotional Instagram post, expressing her deep gratitude to her partner, Pearly Tan Koong Le.
"Pearly, without you, I wouldn't be here at the Olympics," Thinaah wrote, her heartfelt message quickly garnering over 83,000 likes. She reflected on their journey, the struggles with sickness and injuries, and the misunderstandings during training…
"We only trained together for ten days before heading to France. Even though we had misunderstandings during the camp, everything changed at the village. We became one. Every moment on the court, we had each other's backs," Thinaah shared.
Their historic journey to the Olympic semi-finals, despite being in the 'Group of Death,' was a testament to their perseverance. Thinaah emphasised their pride in reaching this milestone, even without a medal.
"Each point we fought for, each rally, we made it together. Returning without a medal is disappointing, but we must recognize our achievements. Not everyone will stand by us during tough times, but we will always have each other," she continued, cherishing their shared Olympic experience.
Pearly Tan Koong Le also posted a heartfelt message, reciprocating Thinaah's gratitude. Her post, attracting over 125,000 likes, celebrated their partnership and friendship.
"We weren't destined to be partners from the start, but we found each other and made it this far," Pearly wrote. She opened up about her health struggles and how Thinaah's support helped her persevere. "Sorry for always being sick and injured, leaving you to pick up the pieces. It's been tough, but I'm glad you stood by me," she shared.
Reflecting on their historic run to the semi-finals, Pearly spoke of the dreamlike experience of reaching the Olympic Village. "Our bond and memories are worth more than any medal," she concluded, deeply appreciating Thinaah's friendship.
Both posts have deeply touched Malaysians, who are incredibly proud of their achievements and eagerly await their performance in the next Olympics.
Their resilience, unity, and shared dreams have inspired many, making them beloved figures in Malaysian sports.
