Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah were officially crowned Indonesian Masters champions after their final opponents from Japan, Arisa Igarashi–Miyu Takahashi, conceded a walkover on Sunday (January 25).
The world No. 2 Malaysian duo were set to face the newly-formed Japanese pairing in the title decider, but the Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed via its official platform that Igarashi–Takahashi had withdrawn, handing Pearly–Thinaah the title without a rally being played.
While the unexpected ending denied fans a blockbuster final and was not the manner in which Pearly–Thinaah would have preferred to secure the crown, the triumph still marked an important milestone — their first title of the 2026 season.
The Indonesian Masters victory also saw Pearly–Thinaah go one step better than last year, having finished runners-up in the 2025 edition after falling to South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong–Kong Hee-yong in the final.
Despite the anticlimactic finish, the title reinforces Pearly–Thinaah’s status as one of the most consistent and formidable women’s doubles pairs on the world tour, as they continue to build momentum ahead of a packed international calendar and bigger challenges later in the season.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
