Latest news with #Pearly-Thinaah
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysian shuttlers eye historic double world titles in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could be in for a bumper outing at next month's Badminton World Championships in Paris — with not one but two world titles within reach, based on current form and World Tour stats. In men's doubles, world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are leading the charge. The 2022 world champions have consistently delivered at major events since their Olympic bronze in Tokyo, and remain Malaysia's best hope of striking gold again. But there's excitement brewing on the women's front too. Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, the new world No. 2 pair, have been gathering serious momentum. The Thailand Open champions — who also finished runners-up in Indonesia and Japan, and made the China Open semis — are now poised to break China's long-standing grip on the women's doubles crown. Should they succeed, Pearly-Thinaah will carve their names in history as Malaysia's first women's doubles world champions. It won't be a solo mission in the men's doubles either. Malaysia also boast depth, with world No. 4 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun adding firepower. Between the three pairs, they've already shared six titles this season — Aaron-Wooi Yik with three, Wei Chong-Kai Wun two, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin one. All three pairings have reached at least one final in each of their last seven tournaments — a testament to their consistency and hunger. Their biggest obstacle? The in-form world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, who have bagged five titles this year. But with no strong second pair in sight, the pressure could mount for the Koreans in the French capital. Malaysia, on the other hand, hold an ace — coaching maestro Herry IP. Dubbed the "Magician", the legendary Indonesian has produced multiple world champions and now heads Malaysia's doubles project at BAM. Still, there are questions after Aaron-Wooi Yik's shock loss to scratch Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in Sunday's China Open final. But it's not unusual for top pairs to ease off slightly before a major. A win in China may have only added pressure ahead of Paris. As it stands, mind games are in full swing, and Aaron-Wooi Yik will lean on Herry's calming influence and his famed "no lifting" mantra to stay grounded. In women's doubles, Pearly-Thinaah are flying under the radar — and that may work to their advantage. They'll head to Paris as second seeds, avoiding a clash with world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning until the final. But the odds aren't all in their favour — they trail Sheng Shu-Tan Ning 9-3 in past meetings, and also have a 4-1 deficit against world No. 6 Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian. Still, with the right mindset and peak fitness, Pearly-Thinaah could whip up a storm in Paris and lead Malaysia to a historic breakthrough on the women's front.
The Star
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Pearly-Thinaah target more feats after reaching world No. 2
PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan - are eyeing more milestones together after rising to a career high No. 2 in the latest world rankings. Pearly-Thinaah officially moved up one rung from No. 3 after their semi-final finish in the China Open in Changzhou last week and are now hungry for more achievements. The pair are the first Malaysians in the women's doubles to break into the world's top two since Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who reached No. 1 in the world in 2009. 'Slowly but surely. Another milestone and to breaking more barriers together,' said Thinaah via Instagram yesterday. Reaching the top two in the world is a well deserved achievement for Pearly-Thinaah as the pair have been in fine form this year. The duo captured the Thailand Open and finished runners-up in the Indonesian Open and Masters and Japan Open. Pearly-Thinaah progressed into the last four and final of a World Tour Super 1000 event for the first time in the Indonesian Open and also made it into their first Super 750 title match in Japan since capturing the French Open in 2022 Pearly-Thinaah, though, have some way to go to overtake current world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning from China. The formidable Chinese pair have opened up a significant gap at the top after amassing 111,634 ranking points while the Malaysians have 89,416 points. Shengshu-Tan Ning have been among Pearly-Thinaah's toughest opponents this year, notably denying them in the finals in Indonesia and Japan. Pearly-Thinaah do have an opportunity, though, to end the country's medal drought in the women's doubles in the World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris. The pair's No. 2 ranking will give them a better seeding in the showpiece event and they will avoid Shengshu-Tan Ning until the final. The official seedings will be released on Aug 8 while the draw for the tournament will be out on Aug 13. Pearly-Thinaah came closest to ending their wait for a medal in the last world meet in 2023 but narrowly lost to China's Zhang Shuxian-Zheng Yu in the quarter-finals in Copenhagen. They are now primed to go further and break down another barrier.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Pearly-Thinaah hit career-high world no 2 in latest BWF rankings
Former national women's doubles pair, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty were the last Malaysian pair to reach this high, back in 2009. 29 Jul 2025 05:08pm Pearly-Thinaah climbed one spot with 89,416 points, trailing only China's Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, who remain in the top position with 111,634 points. KUALA LUMPUR - National top women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have risen to a career-high world number two in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released today. Pearly-Thinaah climbed one spot with 89,416 points, trailing only China's Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, who remain in the top position with 111,634 points. Former national women's doubles pair, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty were the last Malaysian pair to reach this high, back in 2009. Meanwhile, another national pair, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, broke into the top 20, moving up two spots to rank 20th with 45,090 points. In men's doubles, China Open 2025 runners-up Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik maintained their second-place ranking with 94,950 points, behind Japan Open 2025 champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea with 99,405 points. Former world number one and professional pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani dropped one spot to fourth with 80,980 points. In mixed doubles, national duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei returned to the top three with 85,013 points, climbed one spot from fourth. Independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie dropped two spots to eighth place with 72,998 points, while national pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin slipped to 16th from 13th with 52,363 points. In the men's singles, Leong Jun Hao is currently Malaysia's top-ranked player, climbing two spots to 24th with 46,551 points while professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia, sidelined by injury since March, fell two spots to 35th with 38,890 points. In the women's singles category, national shuttler K. Letshanaa rose one place to 41st with 32,918 points, while professional player Goh Jin Wei dropped two places to 47th with 30,165 points. - BERNAMA More Like This
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Pearly-Thinaah rise to career-high No. 2 in the world
PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah received a boost ahead of the World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris after rising to a career-high No. 2 in the latest world rankings as expected. In the world rankings list updated by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Tuesday (July 29), Pearly-Thinaah officially moved up one rung from No. 3 to No. 2 after their semi-final finish in the recent China Open in Changzhou. The duo are the first Malaysian women's doubles pair to break into the top two in the world since Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who reached No. 1 in the world in 2009. There was also joy for national No. 2 pair Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee after the duo moved up two spots from No. 22 to No. 20. Mei Xing-Pei Kee were rewarded after progressing into the last eight in their maiden appearance together in the China Open.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pearly-Thinaah soar to world No. 2 ahead of Paris mission
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.
