KUCHING: Malaysia’s hopes of a historic double gold at the BWF World Championships in Paris ended in heartbreak, but Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah won the nation’s hearts with a performance full of grit and courage.
The women’s doubles pair went toe-to-toe against world No. 1 Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of China in a thrilling final on Sunday at the Adidas Arena. Despite a brave effort that stretched over 83 minutes, Pearly-Thinaah fell 14-21, 22-20, 17-21 in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats.
After losing the first game, the Malaysians fought back fiercely in the second. They held three game points at 20-17, showing their determination and raw power. Although the Chinese pair levelled at 20-20, a costly mistake allowed Pearly-Thinaah to snatch the game and force a decider.
In the deciding rubber, Liu and Tan raised their game, mixing tactics and applying relentless pressure. Pearly-Thinaah battled hard, but the world’s best pair closed out the match 21-17 to secure the gold.
Despite the defeat, Pearly-Thinaah made history by becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the World Championships final. Their silver medal also marked their best-ever performance at the tournament, surpassing their quarter-final finish in 2023.
Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi and Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida shared the bronze after losing in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Malaysia did celebrate gold earlier when mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei stunned world No. 2 Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin of China in their final.
Though the dream of double glory slipped away, Pearly-Thinaah’s historic run has cemented their place in Malaysian badminton history and inspired countless fans back home.