PETALING JAYA: Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah delivered a landmark victory for Malaysia by winning the women’s doubles gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games, bringing an end to a decade-long wait for the country in the event.
The Malaysian pair, ranked second in the world, overcame Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in a closely contested final that showcased both endurance and tactical maturity.
After taking the first set 21-16, Pearly-Thinaah were pushed hard by their Indonesian opponents, who forced a deciding set by winning the second 21-19. Despite the setback, the Malaysians remained composed and regained control to close out the match 21-17.
This victory marked Malaysia’s first women’s doubles gold medal at the SEA Games since 2015, making it a significant milestone for the national badminton programme.
Pearly-Thinaah also strengthened their dominance over Febriana-Meilysa by extending their head-to-head advantage to 4-0, further cementing their status as one of the region’s top pairs.
The gold medal came at a crucial time for Malaysia, following near misses in other key badminton events where gold had been targeted but ultimately fell short.
With Pearly-Thinaah’s triumph, Malaysia’s focus now turns to the men’s doubles final, where Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have the opportunity to add another gold to the nation’s tally.