True grit: M. Thinaah hits a return as Pearly Tan looks on against South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun-Lee Yeon-woo during the women’s doubles final at the Thailand Open. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: The best way to silence the critics is by winning a title – and that was exactly what women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah did when they captured the Thailand Open crown yesterday.
Pearly-Thinaah had been surrounded by speculation about their future, with talk of them leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to pursue a professional career.
There was also criticism from some quarters over the new salary package they had requested from BAM, which was said to be disproportionate to their achievements this year. Their closest result was finishing runners-up at the Indonesian Masters in January.
But the world No. 4 pair proved they have what it takes by overcoming Paris Olympic silver medallist Jeong Na-eun, who is now paired with Lee Yeon-woo, 21-16, 21-17.
This victory marked another milestone in their career as they became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win the Thailand Open since the tournament began in 1984.
“I think it means a lot, to be honest, because we have not had a very good start, especially after losing in the first round at our home event, the Malaysian Open. But we never lost faith in each other.
“We kept supporting and pushing each other, both in training and during tournaments.
“Step by step, we managed to overcome a few things, although there are still many areas we need to improve.
“But today, I really want to thank my partner for staying strong until the end. This win definitely gives us something to build on moving forward,” said Thinaah in a post match interview with BWF.
Last year, when Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah clinched the Hong Kong Open title, they also made history as the first Malaysian women’s pair to win the tournament since its inception in 1982.
And when they triumphed at the French Open in 2022, they also became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win that title.
Now, all eyes will be on them again this week as Pearly-Thinaah look to carry the same momentum into their home tournament when the Malaysian Masters begins on Tuesday.
They will open their campaign against Hong Kong’s Fan Ka Yan-Yau Mau Ying, with the tie marking the first meeting between the two pairs.
“I don’t think we have much time to celebrate because we are leaving tonight. So we will probably just have a good rest and a nice meal with the coaches and support staff who have been with us throughout the week, then prepare ourselves and start again from zero,” she added.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Anders Antonsen (Den) 21-16, 17-21, 21-9.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt William Kryger Boe-Christian faust Kjaer (Den) 20-22, 21-17, 21-12.
Women’s singles: Chen Yufei Chn) bt Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 21-16, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Jeong Na-eun-Lee Yeon-woo (Kor) 21-16, 21-17.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Gao Jiaxuan-Wu Mengying (Chn) 24-22, 21-16.
