Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah etched their names into Malaysian badminton history by becoming the first-ever Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win the Thailand Open title — ending a 41-year wait since the tournament’s inception in 1984.
The world No. 4 duo delivered a determined and tactically mature performance to defeat South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun and Lee Yeon Woo 21-16, 21-17 in a thrilling 57-minute final at the Nimibutr Stadium.
This marks the pair’s fourth career title and their second at the BWF World Tour Super 500 level, underlining their credentials as one of the top pairs in world badminton.
Playing in their second final of the season, Pearly-Thinaah showcased tremendous grit and composure in a match filled with long rallies and intense exchanges. Their experience and synergy proved vital in outlasting Jeong and Lee, a recently reunited Korean duo competing in just their second tournament of the year.
With the victory, Pearly-Thinaah took home a winner’s cheque of US$37,525 (RM161,130), while Jeong and Lee earned US$18,050 (RM77,500) as runners-up.
But beyond the prize money, the triumph arrives at a pivotal moment. The duo are currently contemplating whether to continue under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) or to venture into independent professional status — a decision that could shape the next chapter of their promising careers.
The Thailand Open adds to Pearly-Thinaah’s growing title collection, which includes victories at the:
With this latest win, they continue to set new benchmarks for Malaysian women’s doubles and reaffirm their place among the elite pairs on the international stage.
As the Olympic qualification period intensifies and future decisions loom, Pearly and Thinaah’s victory in Bangkok could be a defining moment in both their careers and Malaysian badminton history.
Credit Photo : Sorawit/SNE Sports
