Latest news with #Pearly
![[UPDATED] Pearly-Thinaah break Singapore hoodoo](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FefThinaah_1748498874.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] Pearly-Thinaah break Singapore hoodoo](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Pearly-Thinaah break Singapore hoodoo
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 4 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah finally shook off their Singapore Open hoodoo, and now they've got revenge on their minds. The Malaysian top women's pair kept up their strong form by battling past Japan's Mayu Matsumoto-Yuki Fukushima 25-23, 21-18 in the second round today to reach the quarter-finals for the first time at this tournament. The Super 750 meet had been anything but kind to Pearly-Thinaah in their previous two outings. They were forced to withdraw from their 2022 debut due to Pearly's elbow injury, and lost in the opening round last year. "It definitely feels like a small breakthrough," said Thinaah. "But we didn't let the past affect our game today. Moving forward, we just want to stay prepared and focused." Pearly admitted she had to rely on her partner during a nervy opener where they squandered three game points at 20–17 before finally sealing it 25–23. "I made a lot of simple mistakes and gave away too many points," said Pearly. "Luckily, I had Thinaah by my side, she helped and covered me a lot. That first game was crucial. We were leading, they caught up, but I'm happy we managed to finish it off." The win sets them up for a likely quarter-final clash with China's fast-rising pair Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian, who beat them in the Malaysia Masters semi-finals just last week. Yi Fan may be in a new partnership, but she's one of the most decorated names in the sport. The 27-year-old clinched Olympic gold in Paris last year alongside Chen Qing Chen. Since teaming up with Shu Xian this season, the pair have reached the semi-finals or better in six of their seven World Tour outings. They've claimed the Swiss Open title and finished runners-up at both the Malaysia Open and Malaysia Masters. The rivalry with Pearly-Thinaah is beginning to take shape. The Malaysians won their first meeting at the India Open when Yi Fan-Shu Xian were forced to retire at 14-4, but the Chinese pair struck back with victories at Orleans Masters and Malaysia Masters. For Pearly-Thinaah, tomorrow's clash offers more than just redemption. They are aiming to reach their third straight semi-final, having won the Thailand Open earlier this month and made the last four at the Malaysia Masters. "Today, the draught was a lot better, but there are still court conditions we need to adapt to," added Thinaah. "That said, we don't want anything to affect our game tomorrow. We just want to stay sharp."
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Chance for Pearly-Thinaah to get even with their home spoilers
National women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in action against China's Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian in the semi-final match of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil on Saturday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah will have a chance to avenge their Malaysian Masters defeat when they face China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian once again in the Singapore Open quarter-finals today. Yifan, the reigning Olympic champion and four-time world champion with Chen Qingchen, has formed a formidable partnership with Shuxian. The Chinese duo dashed Pearly-Thinaah's hopes of reaching the Malaysian Masters final last week with a hard-fought 21-16, 15-21, 21-14 win in the semi-finals. Determined to turn the tables on their rivals, Pearly and Thinaah are eyeing redemption as they battle once more for a place in the last four. The world No. 4 pair had no trouble in their second-round outing yesterday, eliminating Japan's All-England runners-up Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto with a 25-23, 21-18 victory. 'In the second game, I made quite a few mistakes that gave away easy points, but thankfully my partner was there to cover me. She really did a lot to support me,' said Pearly. 'The first game was very intense and crucial. We were leading at first, and though they caught up, we managed to close it out.' Their progress to the quarter-finals is already a step forward, especially considering their previous struggles at the Singapore Open. Last year, Pearly-Thinaah were shown the exit in the first round by China's Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, and the year before that, they also fell at the first hurdle to Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi. Worse still, Pearly suffered an injury during the opening set in the 2022 edition, forcing the duo to withdraw. 'I think this is a small breakthrough for us, but at the same time, we don't want the past to affect how we play today or in the coming matches. We just want to stay focused and prepared for what's ahead,' said Thinaah.
The Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Pearly-Thinaah won't stay down for long after defeat to Yifan-Shuxian
Concerned: Pearly Tan (left) helping partner M. Thinaah up during the semi-final match against China's Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have vowed to find a way to overcome China's dangerous duo Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian. Paris Olympics champion Yifan and her new partner Shuxian derailed Thailand Open champions Pearly-Thinaah's hopes of winning back-to-back titles by beating them 21-16, 15-21, 21-14 in an exhausting 75-minute battle in the Malaysian Masters semi-finals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday. It was the world No. 4 pair's second defeat to the Chinese combo after also losing to them in straight games in the last eight of the Orleans Masters. Pearly-Thinaah were left disappointed by the loss in front of the home fans but are determined to try to gain an upper hand over the Yifan-Shuxian. 'We are disappointed by the outcome in the match today (yesterday) but we will not stay down for long,' said Pearly. 'Yifan is very strong at the back of the court. Her gameplay has variety and it's not easy for us to guess. 'Shuxian is a very good front court player as her net play is very fast and aggressive. When combined, they are a strong pair. 'We are always trying to figure out how to beat pairs like this but things don't always go smooth for us. 'But we keep improving in every match. Although we lost and made the same mistakes, we really try our best to solve the problem. 'We don't know how long more we need to get wins like this and become the best but we won't give up and we will keep trying,' added Pearly. Despite the defeat, Pearly-Thinaah can still hold their heads high after a good two weeks despite facing an uncertain future in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). The duo's contracts in BAM expired at the end of last year but they have still not signed new deals. Pearly-Thinaah, though, are keeping mum on their situation. 'We have no comment. We still have two back-to-back tournaments after this and we have no time. We still don't know (about the contracts),' said Pearly. Pearly-Thinaah were supposed to meet BAM officials for final talks on their contracts after the Thailand Open but the meeting was postponed as the pair had to immediately turn their attentions to the home tourney after winning the title. It's still unknown if discussions will take place as Pearly-Thinaah face a hectic schedule with the Singapore Open starting on Tuesday and the Indonesian Open coming up for them from June 3-8.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Home heartbreak as Pearly-Thinaah crash out in semis
MALAYSIA's top women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah fell short of reaching the final of the Malaysia Masters 2025 after losing to China's Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian in their semi-final clash at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil here today. Despite playing in front of home supporters and riding on the momentum of their Thailand Open win last week, Pearly-Thinaah were unable to maintain consistency in their game and had to concede defeat 16-21, 21-15, 14-21. This marks the second consecutive loss for Pearly-Thinaah to the same Chinese pair, having also lost to them at the Orleans Masters 2025 last March. 'For today's match we feel disappointed, but we won't dwell on it for long. We really gave our best and we did quite well,' Pearly told reporters afterwards. Pearly described Yi Fan as having great game variety, particularly in controlling the backcourt, while Shu Xian is an aggressive net player — making them a well-synchronised women's doubles pair. The defeat extends Pearly-Thinaah's Malaysia Masters heartbreak, with their last final appearance in this tournament being in the 2023 edition, where they lost to South Korea's Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee 20-22, 21-8, 17-21 in an epic 101-minute battle. Meanwhile, Pearly-Thinaah remain tight-lipped about their future with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after reports that their contract ended late last year. 'No comment. We've got a tournament coming up. We don't really have time, so no comment on this,' said Pearly. Pearly-Thinaah are next scheduled to face Hong Kong's Lui Lok Lok-Tsang Hiu Yan in the first round of the Singapore Open 2025, which will take place from May 27 to June 1.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia Masters: Home heartbreak as Pearly-Thinaah crash out in semis
MALAYSIA 's top women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah fell short of reaching the final of the Malaysia Masters 2025 after losing to China's Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian in their semi-final clash at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil here today. Despite playing in front of home supporters and riding on the momentum of their Thailand Open win last week, Pearly-Thinaah were unable to maintain consistency in their game and had to concede defeat 16-21, 21-15, 14-21. This marks the second consecutive loss for Pearly-Thinaah to the same Chinese pair, having also lost to them at the Orleans Masters 2025 last March. 'For today's match we feel disappointed, but we won't dwell on it for long. We really gave our best and we did quite well,' Pearly told reporters afterwards. Pearly described Yi Fan as having great game variety, particularly in controlling the backcourt, while Shu Xian is an aggressive net player — making them a well-synchronised women's doubles pair. The defeat extends Pearly-Thinaah's Malaysia Masters heartbreak, with their last final appearance in this tournament being in the 2023 edition, where they lost to South Korea's Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee 20-22, 21-8, 17-21 in an epic 101-minute battle. Meanwhile, Pearly-Thinaah remain tight-lipped about their future with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after reports that their contract ended late last year. 'No comment. We've got a tournament coming up. We don't really have time, so no comment on this,' said Pearly. Pearly-Thinaah are next scheduled to face Hong Kong's Lui Lok Lok-Tsang Hiu Yan in the first round of the Singapore Open 2025, which will take place from May 27 to June 1.
