Tag: Thinaah Muralitharan

蒂娜·穆拉利塔兰

  • Lei Lanxi to Face Axelsen Again Next Week

    Lei Lanxi to Face Axelsen Again Next Week

    China Secures 2 Titles and 3 Runner-Ups at the Hong Kong Open

    On the evening of September 15, the 2024 China Hong Kong Badminton Open concluded with China’s national team, fielding a partial main lineup, claiming two championships and three runner-up finishes. On September 17, the Chinese team will head to Changzhou, Jiangsu, to compete in the China Open, one of the highest-level and richest prize money events in the BWF World Tour.


    Lei Lanxi Falls Short Against Viktor Axelsen in Men’s Singles Final

    In the men’s singles final, Chinese player Lei Lanxi, who reached his first BWF Super 500 final, faced off against Denmark’s two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. The gap in skill between the two was evident, with Lei losing 9-21, 12-21, missing out on his first major tour title. Despite the defeat, Lei’s performance at the Hong Kong Open was commendable, especially his upset victory over Indonesian star Jonatan Christie in the semifinals.

    Interestingly, Lei Lanxi’s first-round opponent at the upcoming China Open will be none other than Viktor Axelsen, the No. 2 seed. This means the two will clash twice in three days, and given the current circumstances, Lei will find it challenging to get past Axelsen.

    Han Yue Wins Women’s Singles Title, Ending 11-Month Drought

    In the women’s singles final, China’s Han Yue took on Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani. Han won in straight sets, 21-18, 21-7, to secure her title and end an 11-month championship drought. Han Yue will face teammate Gao Fangjie in the first round of the China Open.


    Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin Claim Mixed Doubles Title

    China’s second title came in the mixed doubles event, where Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin defeated their compatriots Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping 2-0. As the third-ranked Chinese mixed doubles team, they upset the second-ranked team to claim the victory. In next week’s China Open, Jiang and Wei will face pairs from Malaysia and Chinese Taipei in the first round.


    Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning Disappoint in Women’s Doubles Final

    In the women’s doubles final at the Hong Kong Open, Paris Olympic silver medalists Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning struggled and lost 0-2 to Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie/Thinaah Muralitharan. The “Sheng-Tan” pair will have a bye in the first round of the China Open and will begin their campaign in the second round.


    Men’s Doubles Remains China’s Weakest Event

    Men’s doubles was the only event where no Chinese player made it to the final at the Hong Kong Open, highlighting China’s struggles in this category. However, there is hope as Olympic silver medalists and China’s top men’s doubles pair, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, will finally return to action after a series of post-Olympic activities and rest. As defending champions, they are the top seeds in the China Open and will face France’s Popov brothers in the first round.

  • Pearly-Thinaah face tough quarter-final clash against Indonesia’s second-ranked pair

    Pearly-Thinaah face tough quarter-final clash against Indonesia’s second-ranked pair

    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 Defy Expectations to Claim Women’s Doubles Title at Korea Open 2024

    Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong Defy Expectations to Claim Women’s Doubles Title at Korea Open 2024

    Na-eun and Hye-jeong Triumph in Women’s Doubles

    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.

  • Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah Finish as Runners-Up at the Korea Open

    Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah Finish as Runners-Up at the Korea Open

    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.

  • No Missteps in the Final Step This Time

    No Missteps in the Final Step This Time

    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.”

  • Young and Brave: Liu/Tan Advance to Finals

    Young and Brave: Liu/Tan Advance to Finals

    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.”

  • Still Feels Like a Dream

    Still Feels Like a Dream

    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.”

  • Thinaah Muralitharan

    Thinaah Muralitharan


    Character Introduction

    Thina Muralitharan (Tamil: தீனா முர ளிதரன், Romanized: tīṉā muraḷitaraṉ, January 1998 3-), Malaysian female badminton player.

    In February 2018, Tina Muraḷitaraṉ appeared in the Iran Badminton International Challenge and won the women’s singles final, defeating her teammate Lee Ying Ying 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9) to win the title.

    In March 2021, Tina Muralitharan played in the Swiss Open Badminton Championships with Chen Kang Le, and successfully defeated Bulgarian seeded players Gavrila Stoeva/Stephanie Stoeva (21-19, 21-12), winning another international tour title after nearly two years of cooperation between the two.

    World RankingWomen’s  Doubles 13,  Week 30, 2024

    Olympic PointsWomen’s  Doubles 14, 62304 points 

    Finals RankingWomen’s  Doubles 18, 37300 points
     

    Equipment Used

    ASTROX 100ZZ;  JETSPEED S 10 Fluorescent Rose;  BG66 ULTIMAX;  NANOFLARE 700;  NANOFLARE 700 new color;  AURASPEED 70F A;  P9500 PENG;  ECLIPSION Z;  SHBELZ3MEX;  A922

    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
    • Malaysia Badminton International Series Women’s Doubles Champion 2018
    • 2018 Iran Badminton International Challenge Women’s Singles Champion
    • 2016 World Junior Badminton Championships Mixed Team Runner-up