In a congratulatory message posted on Facebook, Yeoh said the pair were not done with the Olympics yet as their attention shifts to securing the bronze medal tomorrow after their semi-final loss today.

Yeoh, who is currently in Paris for the Games, said: “The pursuit of a gold medal may have ended today in Paris for Pearly and Thinaah but I reminded them this – at the very heart of this chase for gold is the spirit of excellence we want our athletes and the younger generation of Malaysians to carry in every assignment and task they do.

“Our girls clearly displayed the spirit of excellence by pushing the Chinese world No.1 pair to a rubber game. Pearly and Thinaah played their hearts out. They gave their all. I couldn’t ask for more.”

The pair lost to Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan of China 12-21, 21-18, 15-21 in their 78-minute semi-final match today.

Pearly-Thinaah have a chance to create history as the first Malaysian medallists in women’s doubles badminton when they take on Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida of Japan in the bronze medal decider tomorrow.