Pearly-Thinaah soar to world No. 2 ahead of Paris mission

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: It's official — Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are now world No. 2 in women's doubles, marking a career-best and Malaysia's highest ranking in the event in over a decade.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed the latest world rankings on Tuesday, with Pearly-Thinaah leapfrogging Japan's Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama after their semi-final run at the China Open in Changzhou last week.
It continues a stellar run for the pair, who were runners-up at the Indonesia Open in June and made back-to-back deep runs at the Japan and China Opens this month.
The last time a Malaysian women's pair ranked this high was in 2009, when Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty reached world No. 1.
The timing couldn't be better — the ranking boost is set to earn Pearly-Thinaah the second seeding at the World Championships in Paris (Aug 25-31), potentially setting them up for a favourable draw as they chase a historic podium finish.
Not even Eei Hui-Pei Tty managed a medal at the world meet during their peak.
To mount a serious challenge for top spot, however, Pearly-Thinaah must start winning titles — they remain 22,000 points behind world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.
Meanwhile, compatriots Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing broke into the world's top 20 for the first time, climbing to No. 18 after reaching the quarter-finals in Changzhou — another big step in their rapid rise this season.
In men's doubles, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik remain Malaysia's top pair at No. 2, closing the gap on South Korea's Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae after finishing runners-up in China.
However, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani slipped one place to No. 4 following an early exit in Changzhou, overtaken by Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun held firm at No. 7, while veterans Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong climbed two rungs to No. 23.
Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 24) and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 29) round off the six Malaysian men's pairs in the world's top 32.
In men's singles, Leong Jun Hao continues to lead the national charge, climbing two spots to No. 24 after reaching the last 16 in China.
Lee Zii Jia, meanwhile, slipped to No. 35 after another week out with injury.
The former All England champion, who fell out of the world's top 32 last week, still holds a protected ranking of No. 9 — allowing him to enter any World Tour event when he returns.
In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei climbed back to world No. 3, matching their career-best position from earlier this year.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai dropped two rungs to No. 8, while Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (No. 16) and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien (No. 32) complete the four Malaysian pairs currently inside the top 32.
Women's singles remains the only department without Malaysian representation in the world's top 32 — with K. Letshanaa currently the highest-ranked at No. 41.