Japanese heartbreak for Pearly-Thinaah in third-place playoff

Wait continues: Malaysia's Pearly Tan (right) and M. Thinaah play against Japan's Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida during their women's doubles bronze medal match at the Paris Olympic Games. - AP

PETALING JAYA: A heartbreak defeat but historic achievement nonetheless for Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah as they fell short of taking home a medal from the Paris Olympics.

The women’s doubles pair lost to world No. 4 Japan’s Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida 11-21, 11-21 in a 41-minute bronze medal match at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle on Saturday (August 3).