Sport · Malaysia Bureau
Malaysian pair Pearly-Thinaah stunned by rising Japanese duo at Japan Masters
World No. 4 Malaysian badminton pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan fell to an upset defeat in the opening round of the Japan Masters on Wednesday, losing to Japanese newcomers Ririna Hiramoto and Chiharu Shida.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Malaysian duo, ranked fourth globally in women's doubles, were unable to contain the spirited challenge from their Japanese opponents, who are ranked 214th and competing in only their third tournament together as a partnership.
The result marks a significant upset in the early stages of the prestigious tournament, as the well-established Malaysian pair came up short against the lesser-known Japanese combination. Hiramoto and Shida's victory demonstrates the emerging depth of talent in women's badminton doubles competition in the region.
The Japan Masters is part of the BWF World Badminton Tour and attracts top-ranked players and partnerships from across Asia. The tournament has historically been a crucial proving ground for both established and rising badminton stars.
Pearly and Thinaah will now look to regroup and refocus their efforts in other upcoming competitions, while Hiramoto and Shida advance further in the tournament, building valuable experience at the elite level of international badminton.