Malaysian women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are in for a challenge as they face Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Open today.
While Febriana and Amalia may not be as prominent as their compatriots Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia, they have been making steady progress this year and are currently in strong form.
The Indonesian pair has reached four finals this year, winning the Taiwan Open and Australian Open in June, and finishing as runners-up at the Thailand Open and Spain Masters.
They also secured the gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
Febriana and Amalia have climbed from No. 19 to No. 12 in the world rankings, just two spots behind Apriyani and Fadia.
However, based on head-to-head encounters, Pearly and Thinaah, ranked No. 8 globally, have the upper hand, having defeated the Indonesian pair in three out of their four previous meetings.
Febriana and Amalia’s only victory over Pearly and Thinaah came at the 2021 Indonesian Open.
Pearly and Thinaah are also currently enjoying some of their best performances, finishing as runners-up at the Korean Open just two weeks ago.
Yesterday, the Malaysian pair comfortably overcame local duo Lui Lok Lok and Tsang Hiu Yan 21-16, 21-14 at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon, securing their spot in the quarter-finals.
Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong defied the odds to capture the Women’s Doubles title at the Korea Open 2024, held at the Mokpo Indoor Stadium in Seoul. The sixth-seeded pair, who have risen from a world No. 3 ranking in 2022 to their current No. 20 spot, delivered a stellar performance in front of their home crowd.
In the final, Na-eun and Hye-jeong faced off against the fourth-seeded Malaysian duo, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. Despite Tan and Thinaah’s impressive run, which included a semifinal victory over the top-seeded Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee, they struggled in the final. Jeong and Kim clinched victory with a decisive 12-21, 11-21 scoreline, marking their second Korea Open title and their fourth BWF World Tour win.
Korea’s Mixed Results in Other Categories
Korea’s success continued with a Women’s Singles title, though it came via a walkover. Seventh-seeded Kim Ga-eun did not need to break a sweat as second-seeded Wang Zhi Yi from China withdrew, awarding Kim the title without a match.
However, Korea’s bid for a third title fell short in the Men’s Doubles. Top-seeded Kang Min-yuk and Seo Seung-jae were outplayed by Indonesia’s seventh-seeded duo, Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana. Despite losing the first set 8-21, Carnando and Maulana mounted a remarkable comeback to win the next two sets 21-9, 21-8, securing their first BWF World Tour title of the year.
Malaysian Victory in Mixed Doubles
In the Mixed Doubles final, Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie and To Ee Wei held their ground against unranked opponents Guo Xin Wa and Li Qian from China. The fourth-seeded Malaysians displayed remarkable composure in a grueling match that lasted nearly an hour. They emerged victorious with a 17-21, 21-13, 21-13 win, marking their first BWF World Tour title of the year and their third overall.
China Secures Men’s Singles Title
Despite the mixed results, China claimed a title at the Korea Open with Lu Guang Zu winning the Men’s Singles crown. The seventh-seeded Lu, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, overcame a tough challenge from Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-hao with a 21-16, 20-22, 21-18 victory in a 68-minute battle, earning his first title of the year.
World No. 9 Pearly-Thinaah finished as runners-up in the Mokpo final on Sunday (September 1), losing 12-21, 11-21 to the host pair, former World No. 3 Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong.
The Malaysian duo had defeated another host pair, World No. 2 Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee, in the semifinals, but they couldn’t replicate their brilliant performance against the formidable Jeong-Kim, who controlled the match from start to finish.
Despite the defeat, Pearly and Thinaah can hold their heads high, as this was their first final appearance since finishing as runners-up at the Hong Kong Open a year ago.
The pair last won a title at the 2022 French Open.
Three years ago, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan stood on the podium as favorites for the gold but ended up with a second-place finish.
This time, with just a month to go before the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jia Yifan was hospitalized with pneumonia. “I spent a whole week in fear and pain,” she said. “It’s hard to imagine how I got through it.”
However, neither pneumonia nor anything else could stop Jia Yifan and Chen Qingchen from completing the final step of their journey, correcting the mistake they made last time.
In the finals, they faced their young compatriots Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, who are likely to be the successors of the women’s singles champions in the coming years.
The first game was a perfect example of women’s doubles at its best and showcased the significant progress Chen and Jia had made in building their psychological fortitude, making them difficult to break. Just as Jia overcame her illness to prepare for the Olympics, she and Chen refused to give up even when they were down four game points in the first game, causing their compatriots to lose crucial momentum.
Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning played intensely, showcasing their strong backcourt play and leading 20-16, which could have given them the first game. At this point, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan demonstrated their resilience. The top seeds scored six consecutive points, taking a commanding lead.
Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning continued to challenge until late in the second game, but Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan’s momentum was too strong to be stopped.
In the bronze medal match, Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida easily defeated Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan with a score of 21-11, 21-11.
“Last time, although we only got second place, we were content. Silver can only go to one person,” Jia Yifan said. “Of course, this time I got the gold medal, and compared to the last Olympics, I feel very calm today; back then, my emotions were more complicated.”
Jia Yifan went on to talk about the events during her hospitalization, which threatened her chance to compete in Paris.
“It’s unbelievable. A month ago, I was hospitalized, and this illness scared my compatriots. I had a high fever for four days and was diagnosed with white lung pneumonia.”
They are 20 and 21 years old, making them one of the youngest women’s doubles pairs to reach the Olympic finals. Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning have been on the international stage for less than two years and are just one step away from a fairy-tale gold medal.
They will face a pair striving to etch their names in the annals of the sport — four-time World Champions and Olympic silver medalists Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.
Despite their youth — or perhaps because of it — Liu and Tan showed no nerves on the biggest stage of their lives. They defeated second seeds Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na in straight games in the quarterfinals and displayed great composure today against third seeds Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama. The biggest test came late in the second game when Shida and Matsuyama threatened to take the match to a decider. Liu and Tan remained clear-headed and steady-handed, ultimately defeating the Japanese pair to earn a historic gold medal.
“We remind each other not to dwell on a lost point. We can do better on the next one. Then we discuss our strategy for the next game,” said Liu Shengshu.
“It’s incredible now, even more so because we can enter the finals with our teammates.”
In the other semifinal, Pearly Tan and Tina Muralitharan challenged world number ones Chen Meng and Jia Zhangke; the Malaysian pair persisted until the end. For Chen Meng and Jia Zhangke, reaching the final is a chance for redemption after their loss in the Tokyo Olympics final. They become the first women’s doubles pair to reach consecutive finals since Ge Fei and Gu Jun. Another women’s doubles predecessor, Yang Wei, also reached consecutive finals but with different partners.
“I think today’s match was very exciting and extremely tough,” said Jia Yifan. “We knew they would give their all, and we indeed faced many challenges. However, we trust each other without a doubt. No matter the score, we believe that under each other’s guidance, we can win the match.”
“Tomorrow’s match is truly the last one, and it feels a bit exciting, like we are taking different paths (joking). We just want to cherish this moment, focus on the next match, and help each other fulfill our dreams.”
They said they were nervous and had barely slept all night—but on the court, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan hid those emotions well. The key was how they managed their internal thoughts and external opponents, exuding a calm confidence as they defeated Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong 21-12, 21-13, becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the semifinals at the Olympics.
It took them a moment to grasp the magnitude of their achievement.
“I still feel like I’m dreaming because from the group stage until now, it hasn’t been easy for us,” said Pearly Tan. “So, it feels unbelievable, but there’s still one more match to go. We need to stay grounded and focus on the next game.
“Today’s match was more about mindset (staying calm); whoever remained calmer would win. I’m glad that when one of us was nervous, we could support each other. I think that’s the most important thing,” Tan added.
“We were thinking about the match all the time, but once we stepped onto the court, we still felt nervous. But fortunately, we had each other,” her partner added.
Their next opponents will be Olympic silver medalists and four-time world champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, whom they defeated in the group stage with scores of 21-17 and 22-20. But that match can wait. For now, the Malaysian pair can take pride in their decisive victory over the world number 10 Korean pair.
“Right now, we don’t want to think too much about the next match. We just want to recover well—eat well, sleep well, discuss strategies with each other and with the coach, and prepare for tomorrow’s match,” said Muralitharan.
“We came here with dreams, so we just want to give it our all in every match. We want to stay focused until the shuttle touches the ground. There’s still more to play for.”
Meanwhile, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan moved one step closer to their first Olympic gold, defeating Bulgaria’s sisters Stefani and Gabriela Stoeva in just 41 minutes with a score of 21-15, 21-8.
There was more to celebrate for China as their young duo, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, aged 20 and 21, respectively, knocked out the second seeds Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na. The Chinese world number three pair will face fourth seeds Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama next, who cruised past Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygesen in the quarterfinals with a score of 21-7, 21-12.
In the men’s singles quarterfinals, world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn defeated Kenta Nishimoto 16-21, 21-14, 21-12, setting up a thrilling clash with world number one Shi Yuqi.
Japan’s hopes in men’s singles were dashed as the other Japanese player in the draw, Kodai Naraoka, also lost in the same stage to Chou Tien-chen, with a score of 21-12, 21-16.
“I felt a lot of pressure in the first game. I didn’t think too much. Controlling the shuttle was very difficult, and the wind was strong. It was important to stay aggressive, and the shuttle was slow,” Vitidsarn said.
“I need to learn because this is the biggest tournament. Now (next opponent) Shi Yuqi is very strong, with great tactics and performance. I have to do my best.
“My attack was good today, but I’m not sure about tomorrow because some players are different, right? I have to keep pushing.”
TAN Pearly, a native of Kedah, Malaysia, is a women’s badminton player and runner-up in the women’s doubles at the 2018 Asian Youth Championships and World Youth Championships.
Originally from Kedah, Malaysia, Tan Kang Lok was introduced to badminton by her badminton loving father, and at the age of 13, she entered the Bukit Jalil Sports School for training, and won her first international junior title at the German Junior Championships in 2017, and since then has won many domestic junior tournaments.
In 2018, the duo of Tan Kang Lok and Doi Wei took second place at both the Asian Youth Championships and the World Youth Championships that year. Their performances at the Asian Youth Championships and the World Youth Championships saw the pair seen as Malaysia’s women’s doubles hopefuls, however, the pair split up when Doo Yi Wee suffered from sinusitis and withdrew from the national team.
With Doi Wei leaving the national team, Tan Kang Lok was eventually paired with Muralitharan Tina, who had just joined the national team.In June 2019, Tan Kang Lok and Muralitharan Tina competed in their first tournament after being paired together, the Malaysian International Series, and ended up defeating the Indonesian duo of F. D. Kusuma/R. Sugi in the final, 2-1 (21-16, 11-21, 21-18) Kusuma/R Sugiarto in the final, defeating the Indonesian pairing of F.D. Kusuma/R Sugiarto 2-1 (21-16, 11-21, 21-18) to win their first career international title. In September of the same year, the duo reached the final of the Sydney International again, but lost 1-2 (17-21, 21-17, 13-21) to Taiwan’s Ching Yu-chieh/Tzeng Yu-chieh and finished as runners-up.
In March 2021, Chan Kang Lok and Muralitharan Tina played in the Swiss Open and defeated Bulgarian seeded players Gavrila Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva in two straight games (21-19, 21-12) to clinch their first Tour Championships trophy of the year.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
World Ranking – Women’s Doubles 13, Week 30, 2024
Olympic Points – Women’s Doubles 14, 62304 points
Finals Ranking – Women’s Doubles 18, 37300 points
Equipment Used
JETSPEED S 10 Fluorescent Rose; JETSPEED S 12 F; ASTROX 88S PRO; ARCSABER 7 PRO; 75TH AERUS Z; EXBOLT65 SHA960; P9500 PENG; SHB65Z3LEX; ECLIPSION Z
Major Achievements
2024 Malaysia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Quarter-finals
2023 Hong Kong Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2023 Malaysia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2023 Sudirman Cup Mixed Team Championships Third Runner-up Member
2023 German Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Quarter-finalist
2023 Indonesia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Quarter-finals
2023 India Open Badminton Women’s Doubles quarter-finals
2022 French Open Women’s Doubles Champion
2022 Commonwealth Games Badminton Women’s Doubles Gold Medal
2022 Commonwealth Games Badminton Mixed Team Gold Medal
2022 Malaysia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Final Four
2022 Indonesia Badminton Masters Women’s Doubles Final Four
2022 Thailand Badminton Open Women’s Doubles Final Four
2021 Sudirman Cup Mixed Team 3rd Runner-up
2021 Swiss Open Women’s Doubles Champion
2020 Badminton Asia Championships Women’s Team 3rd Runner-up
2019 Bangladesh Badminton International Women’s Doubles Champion
2019 Badminton India International Challenge Women’s Doubles Champion
2019 Malaysia Badminton International Series Women’s Doubles Champion
2018 World Junior Badminton Championships Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2018 Asian Youth Badminton Championships Women’s Doubles Runner-up
2018 Asian Youth Badminton Championships Mixed Team 3rd Runner-up
2017 World Junior Badminton Championships Mixed Team Runner-up
2017 Asian Junior Badminton Championships Mixed Team 3rd Runner-up
2016 World Junior Badminton Championships Mixed Team Runner-up
