KUALA LUMPUR: Fellow shuttlers and former internationals have urged national women's doubles player M. Thinaah to persevere following her downbeat Instagram post on Friday.
Thinaah, 26, shared the post just days after she and Pearly Tan suffered a first-round exit at the ongoing Singapore Open.
World No. 13 Pearly-Thinaah, bound for the Paris Olympics this July, endured a morale-sapping 21-10, 21-10 defeat to China's Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning. It was their third defeat in a row to the Chinese pair this year.
"Heart is heavy right now. This sport can be a roller coaster, and I'm definitely feeling the lows," posted Thinaah.
"But throughout the doubt, there's a burning desire to keep pushing forward.
"Here's to finding my way back to the top. Indonesia Open Super 1000, one last push before the big game (Olympics)."
Independent women's doubles player Lim Chiew Sien, who partners with Vivian Hoo, was among the first to offer words of encouragement to Thinaah.
In the comments, Chiew Sien said: "Don't stop, idol."
Former men's doubles ace and Asian Games gold medallist, Tan Boon Heong, also took the opportunity to boost Thinaah's morale.
Boon Heong, who used to spar with Pearly-Thinaah at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), said: "Go, go, go."
Other notable players who rallied behind Thinaah included national men's doubles player Yap Roy King and newly crowned Malaysia Masters mixed doubles champion Goh Soon Huat.
In all fairness, Pearly-Thinaah, who were performing exceptionally well just two years ago, have not had the best of seasons.
Apart from reaching the Malaysia Masters semi-finals, the former French Open champions have only made two quarter-finals (Indonesia Masters and All England) from eight tournaments this year.
For the Indonesia Open next week, Pearly-Thinaah will begin their campaign against Taiwan's Sung Shuo Yun-Yu Chien Hui.
Barring any upsets, the Malaysians are slated to face world No. 9 Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti in the second round.