KUALA LUMPUR – Could Malaysia’s top-ranked women’s doubles duo, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, script another historic chapter at this year’s Malaysia Masters, set to unfold at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil tomorrow?
Although they narrowly missed clinching their third BWF World Tour title in the previous edition, Pearly and Thinaah’s journey to the final marked a significant milestone as they became the first Malaysian women’s pair to do so since Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty’s victory in 2012.
Their stellar performance throughout last year’s tournament, including an epic rally against Japan’s Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto in the quarter-finals, which saw them engage in a world-record-setting 211-stroke exchange, further solidified their reputation.
Despite entering this year’s competition as the second seeds and the absence of reigning champions Baek Ha Na and Lee Soo Hee from South Korea, Pearly and Thinaah remain grounded in their approach.
“What happened last year is in the past. For this year, we pledge to continue giving our best, as usual, and hopefully, we can deliver our best performance for all the fans who will be present,” said Pearly.
“Every year, when we get the chance to play in Malaysia, we always feel excited. We have extra motivation when playing here. We are very excited about the atmosphere here.
“Every country is difficult to play against, and they are quite consistent. But our focus is on ourselves to deliver the best performance.”
With the Malaysia Masters marking their return to action since bowing out of the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, early last April, Pearly and Thinaah are eager to make their presence felt.
Their opening match against Thailand’s Pichamon Phatcharaphisutsin and Nannapas Sukklad presents a new challenge, but they are prepared for any outcome.
“While we cannot predict the outcome of the match, we’re ready to face whatever comes our way,” said Thinaah. – May 20, 2024