BANGKOK, Dec 13 — Malaysia is on the brink of winning both the men’s and women’s doubles gold medals at the SEA Games after men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan booked their places in the finals of their respective events at Gymnasium 4, Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani, today.
In women’s doubles, top seeds Pearly-Thinaah were stretched to the limit before prevailing over fourth seeds Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum 21-14, 19-21, 21-16 in a gruelling one hour and 18 minutes.
Thinaah said they were relieved to have pulled through and credited the Indonesian pair for pushing them all the way to the decider, adding that her only wish heading into the final is to leave the court without regrets in their maiden SEA Games foray.
Pearly added that they will focus on recovery as they look to end Malaysia’s decade-long gold drought in the event, when they play against Indonesians Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in tomorrow’s final.
The Indonesians earlier brushed aside Vietnam’s Bui Bich Phuong-Vu Thi Trang 21-10, 21-9.
In today’s men’s doubles semi-final matches, 2022 world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik had little trouble setting aside Indonesians Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana, beating them 21-10, 21-12 in 33 minutes, while teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun lost to Indonesian duo Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 16-21, 17-21, denying Malaysia the chance of making the men’s doubles final an all-Malaysian affair.
Wooi Yik said the pair’s focus is now firmly on securing a second SEA Games gold, having won their first in 2019 by beating Thais Bodin Isara-Maneepong Jongjit.
“Gold is always our goal. We don’t say that because the pressure is really great on us, we just want to fight for the gold medal. We will do our best, we promise,” he told reporters after the match.
Meanwhile, a disappointed Wei Chong admitted they had been too cautious in the semi-final, while Kai Wun said nerves got the better of them, leading to costly errors.
