After exchanging 211 strokes, the top women’s doubles team in Malaysia, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, defeated Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto of Japan 21-19 to create an incredible record for the longest rally in badminton history.
It’s believed that 162 strokes set the previous record for their longest rally. The Malaysian team of Pearly and Thinaah, who won 21-18, 8-21, and 21-19, earned an invitation to compete in the Malaysia Masters quarterfinals at the Axiata Arena in 2023.
Despite losing the match, the Japanese team of Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto, who won the Orleans Masters 2023, put up a fantastic display of badminton, particularly by forcing the Malaysian team to play their longest rally ever in the deciding set with the score 16-14 in favour of the Malaysians.
Gaining the advantage from the longest rally gave Pearly-Thinaah an extra boost to hold the Japanese team long wait until claiming victory.
Click HERE to watch the match
Although the match was closely challenged, capturing the point in the longest rally was the turning point, according to a happy Pearly when she was approached by media afterward.
“I did not que the shot, it was a long rally, and I knew they were prepared, so both sides were prepared too. We knew we were tired, but the opponent was tired too, in our minds we wanted to win that shot so we just mentally prepared ourselves very well and I am so happy we won the point,” she said.
Thinaah stated that she and Pearly would now concentrate on exacting revenge for their humiliating defeat to the Japanese duo of Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota at the 2023 Indonesia Masters, when they lost 14-21, 19-21 in straight sets.
Tickets can be purchased HERE . The Malaysian Masters is happening from May 23 – May 28 2023 at the Axiata Arena, KL.
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