Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, came agonizingly close to lifting the Indonesia Masters title but fell short in a thrilling final against South Korea’s Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong on Sunday (Jan 26).
In a grueling 74-minute showdown at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Pearly and Thinaah staged a spirited fightback but ultimately lost 12-21, 21-17, 18-21. The world No. 7 duo showed great resilience after dropping the first game, winning the second with aggressive net play and sharp smashes. However, the South Koreans held their nerve in the decisive third game, edging the Malaysians in a nail-biting finish.
This defeat marked Pearly and Thinaah’s second consecutive loss to Kim and Kong, following their semi-final exit at the Indian Open last week. Despite this, the Malaysians can take heart from their strong performances against higher-ranked opponents.
While the loss was a disappointment, the Indonesia Masters final marked a significant milestone for Pearly and Thinaah. It was their first final since finishing runners-up at the Arctic Open last October, where they lost to China’s world No. 2 pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
