Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: AFP

Malaysia's top women’s doubles badminton player, M. Thinaah, is not letting world rankings get to her head. Even after reaching a career-best world number two ranking with her partner Pearly Tan, Thinaah says their real focus is on staying consistent and supporting each other on the court, not chasing numbers.

Speaking after a training session at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara, the 27-year-old shared that the key to success lies in their teamwork and determination.

“For me, being world number two is just a number. What matters most is how we perform and support each other every time we play,” said Thinaah.

Eyes Set on the World Championships in Paris

Thinaah and Pearly are now preparing for one of the biggest events in the badminton calendar — the 2025 BWF World Championships, which will take place in Paris from August 25 to September 1. Thinaah said their training is going well, and they’re excited to be back in action after some rest.

“We are excited to be back training together. The world championships are a big deal for us, and we’re just preparing well and looking forward to it,” she added.

Strong Performances Throughout the Season

This year has been very successful for the Pearly-Thinaah duo. Their dedication and hard work are paying off. Recently, they moved one spot up in the BWF rankings, making them world number two — their highest ranking ever.

Their journey this season has been filled with achievements:

• Winners of the Thailand Open
• Runners-up in the Indonesia Open
• Semi-finalists at the Malaysia Masters
• Quarter-finalists at the Singapore Open
• Runners-up in the Japan Open, where they lost to the world number one pair, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning from China

These results show that Thinaah and Pearly are not just participating — they are competing at the top level with the best players in the world.

Teamwork Is Their Strength

What makes this pair stand out is not just their skills but their strong understanding and trust in each other. Whether they win or lose, they keep encouraging and backing each other. That’s what Thinaah believes will keep them going far.

They believe that by being focused, disciplined, and always supporting each other, they can achieve even greater things in future tournaments. For them, success doesn’t just mean trophies and rankings — it means growing as a team and always doing their best.

Confidence

As they gear up for the 2025 World Championships in Paris, Pearly and Thinaah are more motivated than ever. They have proven themselves by defeating top-ranked pairs and making deep runs in major tournaments. Their goal now is to maintain their form, stay injury-free, and keep improving every day.

“We don’t want to think too much about the rankings. We just want to go out there, play our game, and give our best,” Thinaah said with a smile.

A Rising Force in Women’s Badminton

With their eyes on the prize and hearts full of determination, Pearly and Thinaah have already inspired many young badminton fans in Malaysia and around the world. Their journey proves that hard work, patience, and a strong bond can lead to amazing achievements.

They are not just rising stars — they are now a powerful force in women’s doubles badminton, and their journey is far from over. As the countdown to the World Championships begins, all eyes will be on these two talented athletes from Malaysia.

• Their fans, coaches, and the entire nation are hoping to see them shine in Paris — not just as world number twos, but as champions who play with heart, passion, and unity.a