Pearly Tan-Thinaah help Malaysia cruise past Hong Kong into Asian Games badminton quarters

Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah won in straight games as Malaysia cruised to a 3-0 victory over Hong Kong, China. — AFP pic

First Published: Sunday, 20 Sep 2026 5:46 PM MYT

AICHI, Sept 20 — Malaysia opened their 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games women’s team badminton campaign in stylish fashion, defeating Hong Kong, China 3-0 in the first round to advance to the quarter-finals today.

In the tie held at the Ichinomiya City Gymnasium, first singles player K. Letshanaa set the pace for the national squad by defeating Lo Sin Yan Happy 21-9, 21-16 in 34 minutes.

Top doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah then doubled Malaysia’s lead, overcoming Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam 21-11, 21-17 in 39 minutes.

Wong Ling Ching completed the clean sweep by dispatching Liang Ka Wing 21-17, 21-14 in the second singles match.

Malaysia will face South Korea, who received a first-round bye, in the quarter-finals.

National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen described his team’s performance as solid, praising the players’ focus, discipline and determination despite playing as favourites.

“Very good and solid performance from the team today. Not always easy to win when we are the favourites, but today the players had the good balance of focus, discipline and determination which was necessary to achieve,” he told reporters after the tie here today. — Bernama