Malaysian Badminton Duo Makes Historic Win in Arctic Open

A Double Joy for Malaysian Badminton Fans

PETALING JAYA: National women’s shuttlers Pearly Tan-M Thinaah made it a double joy for Malaysian badminton fans when they joined their male counterparts to enter the finals of the 2024 Arctic Open.

Semifinal Victory Against Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi

The world No 7 pair smashed their way to defeat Japan’s world No 6 Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanisi 21-19, 19-21, 26-24 in the semifinal last night.

The match at the Energia Areena in Vantaa, Finland lasted one hour and 42 minutes.

Record-Setting Win

The duo who captured the Hong Kong Open a month ago, have now won four of their five meetings so far against the Japanese pair and are considered serious contenders for the Arctic Open title.

Pearly-Thinaah will play world No 2 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ming of China in the final tonight.

In-Depth Analysis of the Match

In the first game, the Japanese pair led 11-9 in seven minutes at the break and went on to take a 17-13 lead. But Pearly-Thinaah came from behind to win 21-19 in just 21 minutes.

The second game saw the Japanese pair switching to some attacking play to take a quick 9-3 lead.

Despite a gallant fightback by the Malaysians to reduce the deficit, Iwanaga-Nakanishi went on to win 21-19 in 33 minutes to force a rubber.

The rubber game saw long rallies as both pairs tried to force each other to make errors. After a point-for-point exchange, the Malaysians led 11-10 at the changeover.

The game went into deuce six times before Pearly-Thinaah sealed the issue at 26-24 to cap a magnificent semifinal victory.

Men’s Doubles Shuttlers Also Make a Strong Statement

Earlier yesterday, men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Wei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani stunned China’s world No 1 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang 18-21, 21-17, 21-18 to cruise into the final of the BWF Super 500 series.

Conclusion

Malaysian badminton fans can look forward to a thrilling final match as Pearly Tan-M Thinaah take on the world No 2 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ming of China. With their semifinal win, the duo has made history in the Arctic Open, exemplifying their growth and determination in the sport.

FAQs

Q: How many meetings have Pearly Tan-M Thinaah won against Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanisi?
A: The duo has won four out of their five meetings so far against the Japanese pair.

Q: What is the final match schedule for Pearly Tan-M Thinaah?
A: The duo will face world No 2 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ming of China in the final tonight.

Q: How long did the semifinal match last?
A: The match at the Energia Areena in Vantaa, Finland lasted one hour and 42 minutes.