Kumamoto: Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, delivered a performance to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Kumamoto Masters after defeating South Korea’s Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo in Japan today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the second-round match at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, the top seeds secured a straight-sets victory of 21-14, 21-9 in 31 minutes, marking their fourth win over the world No. 20 pair in four meetings. Awaiting the world No. 2 duo in the quarter-finals is either the tournament’s seventh seed from Taiwan, Hsu Yin Hui-Lin Jhih Yun, or Japan’s Nanako Hara-Riko Kiyose.

Meanwhile, the country’s men’s professional singles player Jacky Kok’s hopes of a deep run ended after losing to experienced host player Kenta Nishimoto 20-22, 11-21.

Other results involving Malaysian players include the women’s singles match where Chiu Pin-Chian from Taiwan defeated K. Letshanaa 24-22, 21-18. In mixed doubles, the Thai pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran overcame Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin 14-21, 21-12, 21-17. Additionally, Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan from Taiwan defeated the Malaysian duo Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing 21-17, 21-14.