M'sians Offer Words Of Support After Pearly Tan Breaks Down In Tears Over Injury Mid-Game
The national shuttler was seen leaving the arena in a wheelchair and in tears.
National badminton doubles players Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan had to retire from the 2022 Japan Open after Tan sustained an injury to her left knee
The Malaysian shuttlers won the first set against South Korea's Baek Ha Na and Lee Yu Lim, 21-13, in the last-16 match, on Thursday, 1 September, then lost 19-21 in the second set.
They were trailing 11-16 when they decided to call it quits in the rubber set, with Tan looking visibly in pain while Thinaah, her coaches, and medical personnel tried to console her.
Image via @missdian_55 (Twitter)
Image via @nieeeeehh (Twitter)
It is said Tan suffered an injury to her left knee following an awkward landing during the second set
However, with the medical team giving her a green light to resume the match, she tried to soldier on.
Tan could be seen struggling with movement during the rubber set, before finally submitting to retire, leaving the Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka in a wheelchair and in tears.
According to New Straits Times, national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said Tan could have torn her left hamstring based on an early assessment by a doctor.
Image via @mxstxnx (Twitter)
Fans who were watching the events unfold live took to Twitter to share their heartbreak after seeing the national shuttler break down in tears and to offer words of encouragement
Meanwhile, Tan and Thinaah have both clarified that they both chose to continue playing against their coaches' advice
In an Instagram Story following inquiries into why she was not encouraged to stop earlier, Tan wrote, "It's solely my own decision to continue plyaing even when my coaches wanted me to stop. I hope my stubbornness will not lead to any misunderstandings, I just wanted to say sorry and thanks to them for always supporting me."
"It was our decision to keep playing the match, please don't blame anyone else for our decision. Coaches advised us to stop earlier but we wanted to move on and keep giving our best," said Thinaah.
The pair were last seen helping the national contingent take home a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games:
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