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"We Were Not Destined To Be Partners, But..." — Now Pearly Pens Emotional Note For Thinaah

Pearly and Thinaah became the first Malaysian women's doubles pair to reach the Olympic semi-finals.

Cover image via Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

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National women's doubles shuttler Pearly Tan Koong Le has penned a heartwarming post for her on-court partner Thinaah Muralitharan after the pair missed out on the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics

In her viral post, which has received over 125,000 likes on Instagram, Pearly expressed her deep gratitude and admiration for Thinaah, highlighting their enduring friendship.

"We were not destined to be partners from the start but somehow found each other along the way and made it this far," Pearly revealed, addressing Thinaah affectionately as "chaaaaa".

"We had our own misunderstandings and struggles but these lows have shown me the true meaning of perseverance and partnership. Without you, my dream to be at the Olympics will never come true.

"Sorry for always being sick and injured for these few years and leaving you alone to pick up the pieces. It has been a struggle but [I'm] glad that you are by my side," the 24-year-old wrote.

According to Pearly, while the last few weeks before the Olympics were challenging, their resilience and determination helped them get through it, and they always found strength in each other.

Pearly and Thinaah became the first Malaysian women's doubles pair to reach the Olympic semi-finals, ultimately finishing in fourth place

"When we reached the Olympic Village, it was like a dream come true with all the troubles and doubts being [washed away]. We have always known that this dream was hard to achieve," she wrote, adding that their shared dream of Olympic glory was evident in every action, from their intense training regimen to the sleepless nights spent together in the Olympic Village.

"Truthfully, I do not know how we came this far but we just trusted each other and here we are. The obstacles we've overcome, from the physical challenges, to the mental battles, have only made us stronger.

"The bonds we share and the memories we have created are worth more than any medal," Pearly wrote.

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan react as they leave the court after losing the bronze medal match against Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan.

Image via Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

Pearly concluded her post by thanking Thinaah for her support

"Sorry for letting you down sometimes and thanks for always listening to my thoughts.

"Thank you for being my partner and my best friend. Together we can conquer everything," she wrote.

Earlier, Thinaah penned an emotional post for Pearly:

Meanwhile, a controversy has erupted after Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria's family was seen at the Olympics:

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