Malaysian women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah faced a surprising defeat at the 2026 Malaysia Open, exiting in the second round. They lost to the Indonesian pair of Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari, who are currently ranked No. 60 in the world. The match took place on January 8 at the Axiata Arena.
The Malaysian duo, ranked world No. 2, went down 24‑26, 17‑21 in a 54‑minute match. Pearly and Thinaah had previously enjoyed a dominant record against the Indonesian pair, making the loss a surprising upset for fans.
The match saw the Malaysians fall behind early, trailing 1‑11 in the first game, before mounting a late fightback that ultimately fell short.
After the match, Pearly acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted the need to focus on improvement. Meanwhile, Thinaah apologised to fans for the early exit, expressing gratitude for their support and promising to come back stronger.
Pearly also revealed she had been unwell a week before the tournament, receiving hospital treatment for a fever that may have affected her performance. Despite this, she thanked fans for their unwavering support on social media, writing, “I’m sorry we couldn’t give you more days to watch us play, but I’m truly grateful for all the love and support.”
The early exit continues a challenging home campaign for the pair, who have yet to reach the quarter-finals at the Malaysia Open together despite strong performances internationally. Fans remain supportive of the national pair, recognising their achievements on the world stage and expressing optimism for upcoming competitions.
Source: Malay Mail
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