Pearly-Thinaah end 12-year wait, take on world No. 1s for Asian Games final spot

Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are guaranteed an Asian Games medal. Their next task is the toughest match in women's doubles.

The world No. 5 pair beat India's Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly 21-18, 21-9 in 42 minutes in Sunday's quarter-final at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. Reaching the semi-finals guarantees them at least a bronze medal.

Ending a 12-year wait

They are the first Malaysian women's doubles pair on the Asian Games podium since Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei won bronze at Incheon 2014.

"It is motivating, but we have not thought too much about it. Over the past few weeks, we have focused on ourselves and our partnership," Thinaah told the New Straits Times. "We just want to do our best and leave the court with no regrets."

Semi-final against the world No. 1s

On Monday, 28 September, they play China's world No. 1 pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning. The Chinese pair beat Taiwan's Hsieh Pei-shan and Hung En-tzu 21-15, 21-15 in their quarter-final.

The record favours China. According to The Star, Liu-Tan have won 10 of their 13 meetings. Pearly-Thinaah's three wins came at the 2023 Asia Mixed Team Championships, the 2023 Japan Open and the 2024 Hong Kong Open. The most recent meeting was last year's World Championships final, which China won.

"Of course everyone wants to reach the final, but tomorrow's semi-final will not be easy. We are the underdogs, as usual," Pearly said. "We want to focus on one match at a time and carry the feeling we had from the first match into every match."

If they win, they will be Malaysia's first women's doubles pair to reach an Asian Games final, The Star noted.

Friendship through hard times

Pearly has struggled with injuries, and both players say their friendship has helped them through.

"We are best friends on and off the court. If something is wrong, we talk about it and try to understand each other," Thinaah said.

Pearly spoke about the times she could not train. "There were times when I could not train with her and she had to train alone. But she never gave up on me and always waited for me to return," she said.

Rest of Malaysia's badminton campaign ends

Pearly-Thinaah are Malaysia's only badminton players left in the individual events.

• Men's doubles: Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, the world No. 6 pair, beat Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi 21-19, 21-16 in the round of 16. They then lost 21-13, 21-17 to Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang in Sunday's quarter-final.
• Men's doubles: Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun went out in the round of 16, losing 21-19, 21-16 to South Korea's world No. 1 pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.
• Men's singles: Justin Hoh lost 21-14, 21-14 to Singapore's Loh Kean Yew in the round of 16.

For context, Malaysia's only badminton medal at Hangzhou 2022 was Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik's men's doubles bronze.

Key takeaways

• Pearly-Thinaah beat Gayatri-Treesa 21-18, 21-9 and are guaranteed at least bronze.
• It is Malaysia's first Asian Games women's doubles medal since 2014.
• Their semi-final is on 28 September against China's world No. 1s Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning, who lead the head-to-head 10-3.
• Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, Aaron-Tee Kai Wun and Justin Hoh are all out.

FAQ

Who do Pearly-Thinaah play in the semi-finals? China's world No. 1 pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, on Monday, 28 September.

When did Malaysia last win a women's doubles medal at the Asian Games? At Incheon 2014, when Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei won bronze.

Are any other Malaysian shuttlers still in the draw? No. Pearly-Thinaah are Malaysia's last players in the individual events.

Sources: Bernama, New Straits Times, The Star, Malay Mail, theSun