Birthday Gift Delivered: Pearly–Thinaah Finally Break Malaysia Open First-Round Curse
Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah finally put an end to a frustrating home tournament jinx as they powered into the second round of the Petronas Malaysia Open for the first time in their careers.
The world No. 2 duo made light work of India’s Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda, cruising to a 21-11, 21-9 victory in just 30 minutes at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, on Tuesday (7 January).
A Win That Meant More Than Just Progress
The victory carried extra meaning for Thinaah, who had just turned 28 on 3 January, days before the tournament began. But beyond the birthday cheer, the win marked a significant breakthrough for the pair.
Since making their Malaysia Open debut in 2022, Pearly and Thinaah had never managed to get past the opening round of the Super 1000 event, often leaving home fans disappointed.
Speaking after the match, Pearly admitted the relief was palpable.
They were relieved to finally get through the first round, she said, adding that past early exits had weighed heavily on them.
They were disappointed before because they couldn’t give fans a chance to watch them in the second round. This year, both of them focused more on their game and preparation, and it showed.
Eyes Set on New Territory
Thinaah, meanwhile, is hoping the confidence from the opening win will push them further than ever before at the Malaysia Open.
She said the pair are now targeting a quarter-final appearance, something they have yet to achieve at the tournament.
Up next, they face Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari, a familiar pairing they defeated in the SEA Games Thailand 2025 final last month.
Despite holding a perfect 4-0 head-to-head record against the Indonesians, Pearly was quick to play down any sense of comfort.
Past results don’t mean much, she stressed, saying the focus now is on physical recovery, mental readiness, and maintaining discipline on court.
Perfect Opening Day for Malaysia
Pearly and Thinaah’s success capped a flawless first day for Malaysian shuttlers, with all five local representatives advancing to the second round.
Former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik also progressed, though they were made to work harder in a 21-11, 21-19 win over American pair Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith.
Aaron noted that shifting wind conditions at the arena caused some hesitation in the second set, but overall described it as a positive start to the new season.
Also booking second-round spots were mixed doubles professionals Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao, and men’s doubles pair Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King.
The Petronas Malaysia Open 2026 runs at Axiata Arena until Sunday (11 January).
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