PETALING JAYA: All eyes will be on women doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah as they look to extend their sensational run on the world badminton circuit at the Denmark Open starting today in Odense.
Can the second seeds justify their standing and reach their seventh final this year?
Pearly-Thinaah have already made 2025 a memorable year, capturing two titles from six finals so far.
On Sunday, they clinched the Arctic Open crown to add to their Thailand Open triumph earlier in the season.
They also finished runners-up at the Indonesian Masters, Indonesian Open, and Japan Open, while creating history as the first Malaysian women’s pair to win silver at the World Championships in Paris last month.
What has driven the duo to such remarkable consistency?
According to national women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak, it all comes down to their growing maturity and composure on court.
“They are more mature now, both in their game and in how they handle situations,” said Rosman.
“As players, they face challenges everyday whether in training or in competition.
“Pearly and Thinaah have learned to manage these challenges with greater calmness and belief in the process.
“They used to get stressed but now, I see that they accept challenges better.
“They try to overcome them, and even if they don’t succeed immediately, they don’t get worked up as they keep trying until they do so.
“Even in defeat, they’re able to accept the outcome.
“That’s the change I’m happiest to see,” added Rosman, who took charge of the pair this year.
In the Denmark Open, Pearly-Thinaah face Rachel Allessya-Febi Setianingrum of Indonesia in the opening round.
If they win, they will likely face Japan’s Arisa Igarashi-Chiharu Shida but the biggest challenge should come in the last eight, possibly against China’s Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan.
On paper, the favourites are top seeds and world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning but it’s uncertain whether they will play due to injury.
Malaysia last won the women’s doubles title in the Denmark Open through Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty in the 2008 edition.
