Pearly-Thinaah refuse to be intimidated by China’s world No. 1 duo
Malaysian badminton pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are preparing for a challenging Asian Games semi-final match against China's world number one duo. Despite being underdogs with a difficult head-to-head record, the pair is focused on their tactical approach to secure a spot in the final.
Why it matters
This match represents a significant milestone for Malaysian women's doubles badminton, as the pair aims to break a decade-long medal drought at the Asian Games.
THE statistics are against Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, but their hearts are in the right place as they bid to upset China’s world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning.
Both pairs will cross swords in the semi-finals of the Asian Games at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium today.
Yesterday, Pearly-Thinaah pulled off a sensational 21-18, 21-9 win over India’s Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly in the quarter-finals to assure themselves of at least a bronze medal.
It was the first time in 12 years that Malaysia have won a women’s doubles medal at the Asian Games, with Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei the last pair to achieve the feat at the 2014 Incheon edition.
The Chinese pair oozed class in their 21-15, 21-15 win over Taiwan’s Hsieh Pei-shan-Hung En-tzu in another quarter-final match.
On paper, Liu Shengshu, 22, and Tan Ning, 23, are the favourites, having won 10 of their 13 meetings against the Malaysians.
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