Pearly Tan–Thinaah end Malaysia’s 18-year Denmark Open final drought with straight-games win over Chinese rivals

Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah powered past China’s Bao Li Jing-Cao Zi Han 21-16, 21-14 in just 37 minutes to reach the Denmark Open final. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 8:20 PM MYT

Last Modified: Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 8:25 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah ended Malaysia’s 18-year wait for a place in the Denmark Open final after defeating China’s Bao Li Jing-Cao Zi Han in today’s semi-finals.

In the match at the SJF Bank Arena in Odense, the tournament’s second seeds delivered a convincing performance to secure a 21-16, 21-14 victory in just 37 minutes.

The win saw Pearly-Thinaah match Malaysia’s best performance in the women’s doubles event at the tournament since Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui emerged champions in the 2008 edition.

Awaiting the Malaysian pair in tomorrow’s final will be the winners of the other semi-final between two Japanese pairs, Hinata Suzuki-Nao Yamakita and Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi.

Meanwhile, national mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing saw their hopes of reaching the final dashed after losing 13-21, 13-21 to China’s Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping.

Earlier, national men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik became Malaysia’s first representatives to book a place in the final after defeating South Korean world number ones Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae 21-14, 21-18 in 38 minutes. — Bernama