Paris: National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah have made Malaysia proud with their runner-up finish at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships in Paris. Despite a valiant effort, the duo fell short in the final against China’s top-ranked pair, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, with scores of 14-21, 22-20, 17-21 after a grueling match lasting an hour and 23 minutes.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pearly and Thinaah displayed remarkable resolve by attempting to adapt their strategy following a setback in the first game. However, their opponents from China proved formidable, ultimately overcoming the Malaysians’ spirited challenge. This accomplishment remains historic for Malaysia as Pearly and Thinaah are the first national women’s doubles pair to reach the final of the World Championships, surpassing their previous quarter-final achievement in the 2023 edition.

In a BWF audio recording, Thinaah expressed their mixed emotions, acknowledging their disappointment at not securing the title but also recognizing the skill and composure demonstrated by their opponents. She noted that this experience offered valuable lessons for their future endeavors. Thinaah emphasized their mindset of tenacity during the match, committing to fight for every point until the very end.