Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, saw their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Malaysian Open cut short after a hard-fought loss to Indonesia’s Febriana Kusuma and Meilysa Puspitasari on Thursday, January 8, at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
The world No. 2 Malaysian duo, who had previously beaten the Indonesians in a thrilling final at the Thailand SEA Games last month, struggled to find the same rhythm this time around. In a match that lasted 54 minutes, Pearly-Thinaah fell 24-26, 17-21, unable to overcome their resilient opponents.
The close first game, ending 24-26, highlighted the intensity of the encounter. Pearly and Thinaah had several opportunities to close out the game but were edged out by the Indonesian pair’s precise net play and sharp defensive interceptions. The second game saw the Indonesians take control early, forcing the Malaysians into a reactive mode and eventually securing the victory to end the match.
The challenge on home soil
This defeat means that Pearly-Thinaah’s pursuit of a home quarter-final appearance at the Malaysian Open continues to elude them. Despite being among the world’s top-ranked pairs, the Malaysian duo has yet to make significant inroads in their home tournament.
The duo’s Malaysian Open record highlights the challenge they face on home soil. In the past four editions, they were eliminated in the early rounds: 2022 (second round), 2023 (first round), 2024 (first round), and 2025 (first round). Each year, expectations have been high for the home favorites, but the elusive quarter-final berth has remained out of reach.
Despite the setback, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah remain key figures in Malaysian badminton, with their performances on the international stage continuing to inspire local fans. As the 2026 season progresses, the pair will look to bounce back in upcoming tournaments and finally make a breakthrough in front of their home crowd.
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