Thai pair stun world No 5 Pearly-Thinaah at China Masters

Malaysia's top-seeded pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan crashed out of the China Masters after a surprising defeat to Thailand's world No 43 ranked duo in their second-round match. The Malaysian women's doubles team, ranked fifth globally, had received a first-round bye but were unable to capitalize on their seeding advantage when facing the Thai sisters. The match went the distance, with the Thai pair taking the encounter in three games to secure a spot in the tournament's later rounds. The result represents a significant upset, given the considerable gap in world rankings between the two pairings. Pearly and Thinaah's early exit from the competition marks a disappointing performance for one of Malaysia's key badminton partnerships at the prestigious tournament. The setback comes at a crucial time in the international badminton calendar, with the Malaysian pair looking to rebuild momentum heading into upcoming competitions.