Pearly-Thinaah setting aside contract issue to focus on Malaysia Masters

Free Malaysia Today

19-05-2025

Women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah 'just want to focus on this week's tournament'. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : National top women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah are keeping mum on their future with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Thinaah said they had decided not to let the off-court issue distract them from the Malaysia Masters 2025 at Axiata Arena here, which runs from tomorrow until May 25.
'We just want to focus on this week's tournament. We're just going to play our best for each and every match,' she told reporters after the court testing session here today.
On May 10, BAM deputy president I V Subramaniam said the future of the world No 4 pair would be decided after their return from the Thailand Open 2025, which ran from May 13 to 18.
Subramaniam said the newly-crowned Thailand Open champions had yet to sign and accept a new contract with the association.
Pearly-Thinaah clinched their first title of the season yesterday, downing South Korean duo Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo 21-16, 21-17 to be crowned the Thailand Open 2025 champions.
Asked whether this could be the time for them to claim back-to-back titles, Pearly said they did not want to put too much pressure on themselves but hoped to play their best for the home crowd.
'We are really motivated and excited to play on home ground, but as usual, we don't want to put too much pressure.
'The championship (Thailand Open 2025) is already in the past. Now, we just want to take one step at a time and look forward (to the Malaysia Masters 2025),' she said.
BAM secretary-general Kenny Goh said the association would address Pearly-Thinaah's contract situation at the most appropriate time possible, as their previous contract expired last December.
'Let's be patient. We will try to resolve it as soon as possible,' he said.