Pearly-Thinaah through to Asian Games semis, assured of medal

 The world No 5 pair end Malaysia’s 12-year wait for an Asian Games medal in the women’s doubles event.

Pearly Tan-M Thinaah beat top Indian pair Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly 21-18, 21-9 in 40 minutes. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M Thinaah cruised into the semi-finals of the Asian Games after defeating giant-killing Indian pair Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly in their last eight match.

This assures Malaysia of at least a bronze medal in badminton as even losing semi-finalists are placed third in the championship.

Malaysia last won a medal in the women’s doubles when Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei secured a bronze at the 2014 games.

Fifth-ranked Pearly-Thinaah, who have so far won all their Asian Games matches in quick straight games, won 21-8, 21-9 in 40 minutes against the gritty 26th-ranked Indian pair, who upstaged top Japanese pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto yesterday. - FMT

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