Malaysia’s national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M.Thinaah carved their names into the historic list after storming into the final of the prestigious Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 badminton tournament, for the first time in their careers.
Currently ranked world No.4, Pearly and Thinaah showcased their signature resilience and fighting spirit to defeat China’s fifth-seeded pair, Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min, in a dramatic semi-final showdown at the iconic Istora Senayan in Central Jakarta. The final scoreline read 12-21, 21-17, 21-11 in a match that lasted a grueling 65 minutes.
The Chinese duo, ranked sixth in the world and known for their speed and youth, Yi Jing is 23 and Xu Min is just 22. Both took early control, steamrolling to a 21-12 win in the opening game. But Pearly and Thinaah, who have built their reputation on tenacity were undeterred.
They worked on their strategy, and had a hard fought game. The second game saw better court coverage, and smart shot selection, allowing them to edge out their opponents 21-17. In the decisive third set, the Malaysian pair went full on, overwhelming the Chinese with aggressive play and winning it convincingly 21-11.
A Career Milestone
The win marks their first-every Super 1000 final appearance, a significant step forward in their partnership on the world stage. Despite this being their fourth consecutive World Tour tournament, tiredness took a backseat for their hunger to win.
“Words cant describe how happy we are today. At one game down, we didn’t want to give up easily. It was just about strategy, it was also mental and physical strength. I’m really thankful that Pearly was by my side. She smashed a lot today. We just have to be relaxed and maintain our calm, which gives us strength, in the final tomorrow”, said Thinaah.
Pearly added, “We supported each other and communicated well, which really helped. There wasn’t a single turning point, but we definitely enjoyed some of the trick shots. The atmosphere was intense but the crowd’s energy kept us going, even though most of them weren’t cheering for us”
Starting with a Super 500 title at the Thailand Open, followed by a semi-final finish at the Malaysia Masters, and then a quarter-final run at the Singapore Open, Pearly and Thinaah have proven they are not only durable but also evolving as a top contender pair.
Their next and final challenge at the Indonesia Open will be the formidable world No.1 Chinese pair, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, today.
As Pearly and Thinaah prepare to face the world’s best in the final, they remain focused on rest, recovery, and maintaining a calm mindset. If their past four weeks are any indication, Malaysia’s top women’s pair wont just be showing up but they’ll be bringing the fight.
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