KUALA LUMPUR — National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals 2025 in Hangzhou despite suffering a narrow defeat in their final Group A match against Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.
The Malaysian duo endured a physically demanding and mentally exhausting encounter that lasted 81 minutes, before eventually going down 15-21, 21-16, 19-21 in one of the most thrilling matches of the group stage. Despite the defeat, Pearly and Thinaah still finished top of Group A based on their earlier convincing performances, ensuring their progression into the knockout phase of the prestigious season-ending tournament.
Thinaah, speaking in an audio clip shared by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) with the media, acknowledged that the pair did not get off to the start they had hoped for in the opening game. According to her, the Japanese pair capitalised on early momentum and rhythm, forcing the Malaysians to adjust their strategy mid-match.
“In the second set, we really tried to reorganise ourselves. We discussed what needed to be changed, especially in terms of our execution and tactical approach. I think we did much better in that set, and we were more settled,” she said.
The deciding rubber game, she added, was all about composure, trust, and emotional strength on court. “We were just trying to support each other and stay calm in the crucial moments. But towards the end, Fukushima and Matsumoto handled the pressure slightly better. They kept pushing us and maintained intensity right up to the final point,” Thinaah said, while stressing that the pair’s focus has now shifted fully towards their semi-final challenge.
Pearly, meanwhile, revealed that maintaining her physical fitness was one of her biggest concerns throughout the match. The shuttler reportedly experienced some discomfort in her leg during certain phases of the encounter, but she battled on to complete the match strongly, determined not to jeopardise Malaysia’s campaign.
In other Malaysian action, world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei settled for second spot in Group B of the mixed doubles competition after losing 18-21, 24-26 to China’s top-ranked duo Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. Despite the defeat, the pair had already secured passage into the semi-finals earlier.
The semi-final draw involving Pearly–Thinaah as well as Tang Jie–Ee Wei will only be finalised after all group matches conclude.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian mixed doubles pair saw their campaign come to an unfortunate end. Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie exited the tournament after suffering their third consecutive defeat in Group B, losing 17-21, 17-21 to Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu.
With Malaysia now having two strong representatives in the semi-finals, national hopes remain high as the country looks forward to potential podium success on one of badminton’s biggest stages.