[UPDATED] Pearly-Thinaah book Masters semifinals spot with stunning win

KUALA LUMPUR – Top national women’s doubles players Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah kept on surprising fans as they booked their spot in the semifinals of the 2023 Malaysia Masters today after defeating Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota 13-21, 21-19, 21-16. 

At Axiata Arena, Pearly-Thinaah were the first of four Malaysian matches in the quarterfinals’ afternoon session, and excited badminton fans cheered on the world number 11 pair when they won the match in a lengthy one hour and 50 minutes. 

Although fatigue from yesterday’s one-and-a-half-hour-long second round match against Rena Miyura-Ayako Sakuramoto was creeping in for the national players, they pushed through to mount a comeback from a set down.

The stunning win yesterday also potentially saw the longest rally of 211 shots in a badminton match, which happened in the third set when Pearly-Thinaah were leading 16-14.

Out of breath by the end, Pearly and Thinaah were relieved that their nearly two-hour long match was finally over. 

With both shuttlers visibly winded throughout the match, Pearly admitted that it took mental strength to keep them in the fight. 

“I was not injured but I didn’t feel that I was capable of being stable on the court. 

“But I did not want to disappoint my teammate, coaches, family, and fans, so I kept on pushing and told myself to be stronger,” she said. 

This was the sixth time the two pairs had played each other. 

The win today equals the head-to-head record with three wins each. The last time both pairs met was at the Indonesian Masters in January, which saw the Japanese duo win.

In the semifinals tomorrow, Pearly-Thinaah will take on South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong.  

The Korean pair defeated Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 21-15, 18-21, 21-16 today. – The Vibes, May 26, 2023