Women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah reinforced their status as Malaysia’s Most Valuable Pair (MVP) after delivering an incredible comeback to capture the Kumamoto Masters title on Sunday.
Trailing 20–17 in the opening game, the world No. 2 pair saved three game points and stormed back with five straight points to win 22-20 — a pivotal moment that sparked their momentum. They sealed a thrilling 22-20, 21-19 victory over Japan’s world No. 7 Rin Iwanaga–Kie Nakanishi in a high-intensity 54-minute final.
Nicknamed the “Comeback Queens” by fans, this triumph marks Pearly–Thinaah’s third World Tour title of the year, adding to their Thailand and Arctic Open wins.
Pearly said:
“It was very close and every game was very tight. They really gave a strong fight. We’re very happy with today’s win.”
Thinaah added that mutual trust made the difference:
“Supporting and motivating each other in every point was the key.”
National women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak praised the duo for overcoming a difficult week:
“It wasn’t easy. Both were not in their best condition, but their spirit to overcome every challenge deserves praise. Their physical and mental strength were the key to victory today.”
The pair’s grit was evident throughout the tournament. They started slowly in Kumamoto — even trailing 7-0 in one match — but consistently fought their way back with solid defending and composure under pressure.
In the final, a scare came when Pearly appeared to hurt her back during a dive at 9-8 in the second game. She quickly recovered, and with Thinaah’s relentless support, the duo secured their seventh win in nine meetings against the Japanese pair.
This season, Pearly–Thinaah have been Malaysia’s most consistent pair on the global stage, even out-performing men’s doubles world No. 2 Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik in terms of match consistency.
Both pairs have won three titles this year, but Pearly–Thinaah have reached seven finals, one more than Aaron–Wooi Yik. They have also achieved at least quarter-final results in 16 tournaments, compared to 11 for the men’s duo.
About the Author
