KUALA LUMPUR — National women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are set to reach a career-high world No. 2 in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings today.
This marks the highest placing for a Malaysian pair in the discipline since Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui were ranked world No. 1 in 2009.
While comparisons are inevitable, Pei Tty, who played a key role in shaping Pearly and Thinaah’s early development as a coach, believes there is no need to pit past and present achievements against each other.
“I don’t think there’s anything that needs to be compared,” said Pei Tty, who is currently coaching at the Singapore Sports School.
“The era has changed — the game style and pace are very different now. Today’s game demands much faster speed and strong follow-up attacks.”
She added, “That said, congratulations to them on reaching a new milestone and achieving a higher ranking. It’s a great step forward for Malaysian women’s doubles.”
Pei Tty’s former partner Chin Eei Hui, now based in New Zealand where she continues to coach, also echoed similar sentiments in private, saying she is proud of what Pearly and Thinaah have achieved, especially considering the evolution of the women’s game in recent years.
Pei Tty, who had guided Pearly and Thinaah during their formative years in the national setup, noted how the current duo have developed greater tactical awareness and resilience over time.
“My advice to them is to stay clear and confident about how they want to play,” she said.
“They’ve become more flexible in their strategy and are using smarter shot placements to put their opponents in uncomfortable positions, creating better opportunities to attack.”
She pointed to the Japan Open final this month, where Pearly and Thinaah finished runners-up, as a moment that highlighted the mental side of high-level competition.
“They felt the pressure to win, and expectations played a part. Learning how to manage that kind of pressure is very important at this level,” she said.
With the World Championships in Paris just weeks away and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, Pei Tty believes it is critical for Pearly and Thinaah to strike the right balance between training intensity and recovery.
“The road to LA is still long, and no one knows what might happen over the next two years. Discipline will be crucial, especially as they grow older. They need to train smart, listen to their bodies, and stay on top of recovery,” she added.
“Only they know their true condition, and staying injury-free — especially avoiding major injuries — must be a priority.”
Pearly and Thinaah have already etched their names into Malaysian badminton history, becoming the first women’s pair to win the Super 750 French Open in 2022 and also the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics during last year’s edition in Paris.
Their steady ascent has continued in 2025, winning the Super 500 Thailand Open in May and reaching four World Tour semi-finals, including the prestigious Super 1000 Indonesia Open in June.
In addition to their impressive run of form, the duo recently signed new four-year contracts with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), reportedly worth RM1 million each per year — making them the highest-paid women’s shuttlers in the nation’s history.
More than the money, however, their focus remains on achieving what no Malaysian women’s doubles pair has done before — to stand on the World Championships podium.
With a growing list of achievements and the backing of their mentors and the national body, Pearly and Thinaah are no longer just hopefuls — they are contenders. — July 29, 2025