Malaysia’s women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan and M.Thinaah have shaken up the global badminton scene so much that China has decided to reunite their Olympic champions Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan.
The Chinese duo, who clinched gold at last year’s Paris Olympics, will resume their partnership at the Denmark Open (14th Oct-19th Oct), in what is seen as a direct response to Pearly-Thinaah’s rapid rise.
Last month, Pearly-Thinaah made history in Paris by winning Malaysia’s first-ever medal at the World Championships, taking silver after a hard-fought three-game loss to China’s world No.1 pair Liu Sheng Shu, and Tan Ning.
China’s move reflects growing concern that the Malaysians could soon dethrone them as the dominant force in women’s doubles. Former national shuttler Woon Khe Wei believes China’s strategy is clear:
“Qing Chen-Yi Fan have the experience and they will pose a big threat to Pearly-Thinaah on the World Tour and at major events. It’s not only China. Malaysia’s other rivals are also taking Pearly-Thinaah very seriously. This speaks volumes about their quality and the respect they command.
Image Source: The Sun“But Pearly-Thinaah don’t need to worry about the top China pair in the first three or four tournaments, as they will take time to regain rhythm and match sharpness. After that, they must be ready”, Khe Wei added.
For now, Pearly and Thinaah will focus on the Hong Kong Open. They begin their campaign against Taiwan’s Chang Ching Hui-Yang Ching Tung (world No.17) with the prospect of meeting Qing Chen’s temporary partner Keng Shu Liang in the second round. A tougher test could await in the semi-finals, where they are expected to face Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, the current world No.4 duo who hold a 4-1 record over the Malaysians.
As Pearly-Thinaah continue their march on the World Tour, their success has not only inspired Malaysian fans but also forced the sport’s superpower to reshuffle its strongest cards—a testament to just how far the duo has come.
Sources: NST
