Malaysian shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah secured a bronze medal in the women’s doubles event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, concluding their tournament run with a semi-final loss to China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning on Sunday. The match, held at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi, ended 21-16, 20-22, 12-21 in favor of the Chinese pair.

Despite the defeat, Pearly and Thinaah expressed a mix of disappointment and gratitude, acknowledging their efforts against a strong Chinese team. Thinaah, during a post-match interview, thanked supporters for their continued encouragement and highlighted the ongoing process of refining their playing style, strategy, and communication on court.

“It’s a journey, and even though we didn’t perform at our best today, we’re gradually finding our rhythm,” Thinaah said. “For everyone who’s been supporting us from the beginning, I am truly grateful and hope that support continues.”

The pair’s performance marked a positive step following a challenging period marked by injuries, particularly for Pearly, who noted that the tournament allowed them to regain confidence and rediscover their form. “Being able to compete again and find our rhythm has been the biggest gain,” Pearly commented. “With each match, we’re returning to the level we used to play at and building confidence in one another. We intend to keep working hard for upcoming tournaments.”

Pearly appeared composed throughout the match, often smiling and enjoying the competition despite the stakes. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, regardless of winning or losing individual points. “I really enjoyed every point, and knowing we gave our best is something I’m happy about,” she said.

This bronze medal ended Malaysia’s 12-year wait for a women’s doubles podium finish at the Asian Games, the last being achieved by Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei at the 2014 Incheon Games. However, the overall badminton campaign for Malaysia at these Games fell short of expectations, as national officials had initially targeted obtaining at least one silver and one bronze medal across the badminton events.

The early exit of Pearly and Thinaah also brought Malaysia’s broader badminton efforts at the Asian Games to a close, underscoring the challenges the team faces in reclaiming its standing amid increasingly competitive regional rivals.