KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s women’s doubles darlings, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, gave it their all but fell short of claiming the Arctic Open crown today.
The world number seven pair, who have been enjoying a good run of form since the Paris Olympics in August, lost 21-12, 21-17 to China’s Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the final at the Energia Areena in Vantaa, Finland.
For the record, Pearly and Thinaah had defeated the same opponents last month when they secured the Hong Kong Open title, ending their two-year wait for a World Tour title.
Following this latest defeat, Pearly and Thinaah now trail the Chinese duo 3-5 in their head-to-head record.
However, their overall performance remains promising, as they remain well-positioned for a spot at the season-ending US$2.5 million (RM11.75 million) World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
Currently ranked fifth in the Race to Finals standings, Pearly and Thinaah only need to stay within the top eight to secure their place.
Their next challenge is the Super 750 Denmark Open, which begins on Tuesday. – October 13, 2024