KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will bid to deliver Malaysia’s first-ever women’s doubles world title when they take on top seeds Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning of China in today’s final in Paris.
It will be a clash of the top two seeds at the Adidas Arena, with Sheng Shu-Tan Ning underlining their authority by crushing Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-15, 21-4 in the semi-finals.
The Chinese have been the benchmark pair on the circuit with five titles to their name, and their 9-3 head-to-head record over Pearly-Thinaah speaks volume.
Five of their most recent encounters have all gone China‘s way, including two finals this year.
At the Indonesia Open in June, Pearly-Thinaah fought bravely in an epic 87-minute battle before bowing 23-25, 21-12, 21-19.
But their last meeting at the Japan Open final last month ended one-sided, with the Malaysians falling 21-15, 21-14.
Their last win against the Chinese dates back to October 2024, when they clinched the Hong Kong Open title.
Yet Pearly-Thinaah head into their maiden world final buoyed by their semi-final victory against long-time nemeses Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida, another pair that had consistently blocked their path in the past.
It was a confidence-boosting triumph, suggesting the Malaysians are ready to challenge the established order.
Their journey together has been nothing short of remarkable.
Since being paired in mid-2019 — when Thinaah had just switched from singles and Pearly was searching for stability after her long-standing partnership with Toh Ee Wei ended — they have steadily climbed the ranks. Winning the Malaysia International Series on their debut proved a sign of things to come.
Much credit goes to coach Rosman Razak, who identified their potential early on.
Rosman’s return to the national fold late last year further sharpened their game, turning Pearly-Thinaah into consistent finalists on the world stage. This season, they broke into the world’s top three for the first time and now sit at a career-best No. 2, just one rung below the peak scaled by Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty in 2009.
But in terms of major championship milestones, Pearly-Thinaah have already surpassed their predecessors.
They became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach an Olympic semi-final in Tokyo last year, finishing fourth, and are now guaranteed at least silver in Paris.
Today, they stand on the brink of something even greater — one win away from rewriting Malaysian badminton history with a world title.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
