Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M.Thinaah made a strong start at the China Open after advancing to the second round with straight-game victory.
The world No.5 pair defeated Japan’s Ririna Hiramato and Kokona Ishikawa, who are ranked world No.29, 21-16, 21-12, in just 31 minutes at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou.
Last year’s runners-up were in control during the match as they secured their place in the next round. Pearly Tan and Thinaah will face either Japan’s Rui Hirokami and Sayaka Hobara or Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr in the next game.
The win comes as a positive take after the Malaysian pair suffered a first-round exit at last week’s Japan Open, where they were beaten by Taiwan’s HSU Yin Hui and Lin Jhih Yun.
So far this year, Pearly Tan and Thinaah have won 1 title, which was the Indonesia Masters in January.
Other Malaysian Players in Progress
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie also secured their place in the second round after a hard-fought victory.
World No. 12 husband and wife pair took 50 minutes to overcome Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Misaki Matsutomo with 21-15, 16-21, 21-19. And in women’s singles, Wong Lin Ching lost to South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin with 21-17,16-21, 21-17 in a 50 minute match.
With Pearly Tan, Thinaah and Soon Huat-Shevon playing well, Malaysia will now look to continue it’s campaign in the doubles event at the China Open.
Sources: FMT
