Fine run ends as Pearly-Thinaah and Tang Jie-Ee Wei lose in worlds' quarters

Down and out: Shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's challenge has ended in the World Championships. - Badminton Photo

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's fine run in the World Championships came to an end after the pair went down fighting 21-17, 17-21, 19-21 to China's Zhang Shuxian-Zheng Yu in the quarter-finals at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen on Friday (Aug 25).

The national women's doubles pair had a great opportunity to win the match when they led 11-5 in the second game but failed to capitalise on their advantage.

The agonising defeat meant that Pearly-Thinaah's winless run against the world No. 6 Chinese pair extended to four matches.

The duo also lost in three games to their opponents in the Australian Open in Sydney recently.

The Malaysians were hoping to become the first women pair to win a medal at the world meet but just fell short.

Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei's campaign is also over after they lost 11-21, 11-21 to Japan's world No. 2 Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino.

It was still a creditable outing for Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who were making their debuts as a pair in the world meet.