Title hopes dashed, it’s silver medal for Pearly-Thinaah

Although they lost the women's doubles final in a marathon match, they became the first Malaysian women’s pair to win a medal at the World Championships.

This was the fifth final appearance for Pearly Tan-M Thinaah this season, winning only the Thailand Open in May. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 National shuttlers Pearly Tan-M Thinaah fell to the world No 1 Chinese pair in the final at the World Championships but they became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win a silver medal in the world meet.

Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning, who had beaten the Malaysians in two finals earlier this year, were stretched to three games winning 21-14, 20-22, 21-17 in a marathon match lasting 82 minutes.

Pearly-Thinaah can walk with their heads held high as they played their hearts out after losing the first game to force a decider but the gritty Chinese pair turned on the power in the rubber game to win the title.

Today’s final was the fifth this season for Pearly-Thinaah but their sole victory was at the Thailand Open in May.

Despite their defeat, their world championships campaign was an outstanding one for Pearly-Thinaah as they became Malaysia’s first women’s doubles pair to enter the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

They secured 12,500 points as runners-up for BWF championship points which will strengthen their position as world No 2. The champions received 14,500 points.

Earlier, World No 4 shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei rewrote national badminton history after becoming the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to lift the World Championships crown and win a gold medal.

Netizens and political leaders including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ramped up social media, describing the duo’s win as the best Merdeka gift for Malaysians. - FMT