Pearly-Thinaah dodge Japan but face giant-killers instead

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Malaysian women’s doubles team Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah have reached the Asian Games quarter-finals and will face India’s Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly. A victory would secure Malaysia’s first women’s doubles badminton medal at the Asian Games in more than ten years, marking a major achievement in the country’s sporting history.

Malaysian women's doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya but face a challenging contest ahead against India's Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly. The duo avoided a potential quarter-final meeting with Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto, the world No. 3 pair and Hangzhou 2022 bronze medallists, who were upset by the Indian team in the second round at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.

Pearly and Thinaah, who secured their quarter-final berth with a commanding 21-8, 21-12 victory over Thailand’s Napapakorn Tungkasatan and Hathaihip Mijad, hold a favorable record against Gayatri and Treesa. The Malaysian duo has won six of their eight encounters; however, their most recent meeting occurred two years ago at the 2024 World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, where the Indian pair emerged victorious.

Gayatri and Treesa have proven themselves as formidable opponents, having also claimed a surprise bronze medal at the World Championships in New Delhi last month, underscoring their capability to challenge higher-ranked opponents. This sets up what promises to be a competitive quarter-final clash.

A win against the Indian pair would not only propel Pearly and Thinaah into the semi-finals but also secure Malaysia’s first women’s doubles medal at the Asian Games in over a decade. The last Malaysian women's doubles team to reach the podium was Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei, who earned bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games. The upcoming match carries significant implications for Malaysia’s badminton aspirations in the tournament.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.