Malaysia’s women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan were knocked out of the China Masters after losing a closely fought three-game battle against Thailand’s duo Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard in the second round.
The world No.5 pair, went down with 16-21, 21-17, 19-21 to the world No.43 Thai sisters in a 67-minute encounter at the Sports Centre Gymnasium in Shenzhen, China. Despite taking the second game to force a decider, Pearly and Thinaah were unable to complete the comeback as the Thai sisters held their nerve to secure the deciding game 21-19.
The defeat continues a difficult period for Pearly and Thinaah, who have been working to regain their rhythm following Pearly’s month-long break in June to recover from an injury. The pair have managed to win one title this year, winning the Indonesian Masters in January, while their recent campaign at the World Championships also ended in the second round.
Their China Masters campaign had offered an important opportunity to build confidence ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which is scheduled to begin on September 19, 2026.
For Pearly and Thinaah, the focus now shifts towards recovering their confidence and sharpening their game ahead of the Asian Games. With the tournament providing another major opportunity for the Malaysian pair to challenge the world’s best, they will be hoping to turn their recent setbacks into motivation for a stronger return.
