Malaysia’s women’s badminton history was rewritten today as Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah stormed into the final of the BWF World Championships, becoming the first women’s doubles pair from the nation to achieve the feat.
The world No. 2 duo delivered a stunning comeback victory against Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, winning 14-21, 21-13, 21-12 in a gripping 66-minute semi-final at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
Tomorrow, Pearly-Thinaah will battle either China’s world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu–Tan Ning or Japan’s ninth-ranked Rin Iwanaga–Kie Nakanishi for the coveted title. Regardless of the outcome, the Malaysians are already assured of at least a silver medal — a first in Malaysia’s women’s doubles World Championships history.
This achievement comes just a day after they broke another barrier by reaching the semi-finals, ensuring their names are permanently etched in the country’s badminton legacy.
For Pearly-Thinaah, today’s triumph was particularly sweet. Matsuyama-Shida have been a thorn in their careers, winning 13 of their previous 16 encounters and crushing Malaysia’s Olympic medal hopes in the semi-finals at the same venue last year. The defeat also marked the farewell of the Japanese pair, who announced their separation after a decade-long partnership.
In Paris, the Malaysians have been nothing short of exceptional, winning all their matches in straight sets until today, when their grit and tactical sharpness turned the tide in their favor.
The World Championships carries no prize money, but it remains the sport’s most prestigious title, offering the highest ranking points on the BWF calendar. The champions will secure 14,500 points, while the runners-up earn 12,500 — a crucial haul for qualification to December’s World Tour Finals.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
