Pearly-Thinaah One Win Away From Winning Historic Women's Doubles Medal
They are the first Malaysian pair to reach the quarter-finals since 2015.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Aug 2023, 01:31 PM
Pearly Tan and M Thinaah are on the verge of making history, aiming to clinch a historic medal in women's doubles at the World Championships, a feat never before achieved by a Malaysian pair
Yesterday, 24 August, the duo defeated the reigning two-time champions, Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships at Royal Arena, Copenhagen.
Their path to the historic medal, however, is blocked by the formidable Chinese pair of Zheng Yu and Zhang Shu Xian, who are ranked 6th in the world compared to the Malaysian duo, who are ranked 11th.
The Chinese pair has posed a significant challenge for Pearly and Thinaah across their past three encounters, each resulting in a loss for the Malaysian duo. The most recent of these defeats took place at the Australian Open.
Despite the odds stacked against them, Rexy Mainaky, the national doubles coaching director, remains hopeful about their prospects
His optimism was reinforced when he witnessed Pearly and Thinaah secure a remarkable victory against two-time world champions Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara in the round of 16.
The scoreline of 21-14 and 22-20 was a testament to their determination.
This is the first time Matsumoto and Nagahara failed to win a medal at the World Championships since 2018, having clinched bronze in 2021 and the previous year, reported New Straits Times.
Rexy expressed his unwavering belief in Pearly and Thinaah.
He observed the fighting spirit within them during that crucial match and urged them to carry this momentum forward as they prepare themselves to face the Chinese pair once again. Despite past setbacks, Rexy reminded them that they have everything to gain and nothing to lose in this encounter.
Pearly and Thinaah play against Japan's Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara during their second-round women's doubles match at the BWF Badminton World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Image via New Straits TimesAnother victory for Pearly and Thinaah would guarantee them at least a bronze medal, an accomplishment that has eluded Malaysian pairs since the inception of the World Championships in 1977
The closest Malaysia came to this achievement was in 2015 when Amelia Anscelly and Soong Fie Cho made their mark.
Other Malaysian pairs who reached the quarter-finals include Lim Pek Siah and Chor Hooi Yee in Glasgow 1997, as well as Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty in Anaheim 2005, Madrid 2006, and Kuala Lumpur 2007.
