KUALA LUMPUR — It has been a challenging start to the year for Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, but they remain determined to turn their fortunes around.
Despite facing more downs than ups recently, the duo have refused to give up, showing resilience and grit as they work to find their rhythm.
Their journey brought them to the Indonesia Masters final today, where they put up a spirited performance but fell short against South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong. Pearly and Thinaah lost 21-12, 17-21, 21-18 in a hard-fought match at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta.
Thinaah was optimistic despite the loss, highlighting the progress they have made since crashing out in the first round of the Malaysia Open a fortnight ago, and in the last four of the India Open last week.
“I think today’s game was a good fight. It’s just our second time meeting them, and we’re learning from the past. Today, we produced some good shots against them. Next time, we hope for a much better game,” she said.
For Pearly, reaching the final was a step forward after a disappointing start to the season.
“Of course, I feel happy, although not entirely happy to finish second. Compared to the last two tournaments (Malaysia and India Opens), this is a good result,” she said.
Reflecting on their struggles, Pearly admitted the duo had faced a tough period.
“It took some time for us to come back to our best. We didn’t discuss much after the Malaysia Open, and our performance then was quite bad. We’ve been going through a rough patch, with more bad days than good. It was a bit disheartening,” she added.
Thinaah praised Pearly for her unwavering support during their difficult moments. “She’s been there for me since the start. I know it’s a new year, and we had hoped for a good result, especially on home ground,” Thinaah said.
“There were more bad days than good, and we were quite worried for ourselves. But we were not willing to give up. That’s not how it works,” she added, emphasising their commitment to keep pushing forward.
While they are still seeking consistency, the world number seven pair showcased their ability to fight back and adapt during the tournament.
“We are still up and down, finding our momentum. This week, we gave it our all—not just words but action. Pearly did great, but unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side,” Thinaah said.
As they look ahead, Thinaah shared a heartfelt message for her partner. “I hope she will rest well, and that this result will help her be a little happy ahead of Chinese New Year,” she said.
The defeat in Jakarta marks another learning experience for Pearly and Thinaah as they continue their quest for a title this season.
Last year the duo reached three World Tour finals and won one title (Hong Kong Open). — January 26, 2025