Red-hot Pearly-Thinaah one step away from Thailand open title
The world number four Malaysians took just 45 minutes to subdue the Japanese pair and set up a title showdown against South Korea's Jeong Na Eun-Lee Yeon Woo, who had earlier disposed of Taiwan's Hsu Ya Ching-Sung Yu Hsuan 21-17, 21-19 in the other semi-final.
Thinaah admitted that they got off to a slightly nervy start as their opponents' game plan caught them off guard.
'After the first-game interval, and some advice from our coaches, we focused on sticking to our own strategy. That helped us regain control of the match,' she told Bernama.
Pearly, meanwhile, said that after resolving the initial hiccup, their decision to pressure their opponents proved effective.
'Our rotation and attacking strategy worked well, causing our opponents a lot of trouble. We hope to maintain this momentum in the final against the South Koreans tomorrow,' she said.
In January, Pearly-Thinaah came close to winning their first World Tour title before going down 12-21, 21-17, 18-21 to South Korea's Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong in the final of the 2025 Indonesia Masters.
In men's doubles, the unseeded Danish combination of William Kryger Boe-Christian Faust Kjaer caused a major upset by sending Indonesian top seeds Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto packing 21-13, 21-12 in just 33 minutes.
The world number 75 Danish pair will face reigning Asian men's doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in tomorrow's final after the Malaysians took 38 minutes to overcome home favourites and fifth-seeded Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand, 21-17, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Checkmate, Malaysia crowns its first chess Grandmaster
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in the nation's history, Malaysia can proudly call one of its own a Grandmaster (GM), the highest title awarded in the world of chess. Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old prodigy from Petaling Jaya, officially earned the coveted GM title after securing his third norm and surpassing the 2500 FIDE rating mark by winning the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship 2025 held here today. The title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong honour and places Li Tian among an elite group of fewer than 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide. Speaking to Bernama, Li Tian, who began playing chess at the age of three, admitted that his journey was long and grueling, marked by sacrifices and perseverance. "I always tell people that I have no childhood. So I guess that that will be my biggest sacrifice. "Since young, like even in primary school, I go to school, come back, do my homework and then I start working on chess," he said. When asked about achieving the GM title on home soil, he said the moment was even more meaningful after narrowly missing the opportunity during the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi. "I felt really relieved and happy to actually get my last norm back in Malaysia. "I hope that it inspires more chess players to play chess," he added. Looking ahead, Li Tian remains uncertain about his next steps but hinted that he might compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand at the end of this year. "Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) already approached me for this SEA Games. "I think there's a high chance that I will be playing," he said. Meanwhile, MCF President Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi described Li Tian's achievement as a historic milestone in the nation's chess history. He said the MCF is now more determined than ever to nurture and produce more Malaysian GM, with the goal of elevating and strengthening the local chess scene. "I feel the achievement is a new positive and healthy development for the game of chess in the country. "We do not want this achievement to stop here and if can, we want more GM from Malaysia to emerge, just like what has been produced by neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines," he said.– Bernama
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Justin smiles after rediscovering form at Macau Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Justin Hoh may have fallen short in the Macau Open final, but the men's singles shuttler was all smiles after rediscovering form following a rough patch in North America. The 21-year-old bounced back impressively in Macau after early exits at the US and Canada Opens — both Super 300 tournaments — last month. He crashed out in the second round in the US and suffered a first-round defeat in Canada. However, a timely chat with national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen and coach K. Yogendran upon returning home proved pivotal. It helped the world No. 45 regroup and reach his maiden Super 300 final. "I'm really pleased — this was my first Super 300 final," said Justin. "The discussion with Kenneth and Yogendran after the US and Canada Opens was a step in the right direction. We needed clarity and a better plan to improve my performance." Justin, however, was visibly unsettled in Sunday's final, played under bizarre circumstances at the Macau East Asian Games Dome. A leaking roof and slippery court affected his focus and heightened his fear of injury. He was soundly beaten 21-15, 21-5 by Indonesia's world No. 25 Alwi Farhan. Despite the defeat, Justin took plenty of positives from the tournament. "I've learnt to be more patient. I still need to sharpen my skills and match strategy," he added. Next on the agenda is a valuable stint in Europe. Justin will join world No. 24 Leong Jun Hao and women's No. 41 K. Letshanaa in a training camp with the Danish national team in Copenhagen from August 18-22, ahead of the World Championships in Paris (Aug 25-31).
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Marcelo-inspired wingback Kevin can get Selangor into winning rhythm
PETALING JAYA: Long before new Selangor signing Kevin Deeromram became a wingback in South-East Asia, he was a young boy glued to the TV screen watching Real Madrid's leftback Marcelo light up the Bernabeu with his Brazilian flair. "I like Marcelo when he played for Real Madrid,' said the 27-year-old Kevin. "He is technical and you could see how good he was in Europe. I try to play like him - being on the offensive, always trying to create chances." It's no surprise, then, that Kevin's own game has blossomed in the same mould. A bold, attacking leftback with a forward-first mindset, Kevin is now set to bring his high-energy style to Malaysian football after a solid eight-year stint in Thailand. Kevin's rise in football, however, is somewhat a surprise as his background did not hint at a future on the pitch. "I'm the first professional footballer in my family. "My father was a wrestler. He put me into football, but we didn't come from a sporting world." Born to a Thai mother and Swedish father, Kevin's multicultural roots offered him options, but his love for the game paved his path forward. He joined the Djurgardens IF academy in Sweden in 2012 before moving to Werder Bremen in 2015. A year later, he returned to Djurgardens and made his professional debut against Levski Sofia, a moment that tested every nerve. "Imagine the fans, there were flares everywhere. I was literally shaking. But it made me a player. Since then, I haven't looked back." In 2017, Kevin moved to Thailand, representing Ratchaburi and then Port, where he played from 2018-2025. He won the Thai FA Cup with Port in 2019 and also earned four senior caps for Thailand, after clinching the SEA Games gold with the U-23 team in 2017. Now, Kevin is charting a new chapter with Selangor "I felt the time was right to spread my wings. Selangor showed interest, and I thought, 'Why not?' It's a big club with a huge fanbase and good facilities." Adapting, he believes, won't be an issue. "I can't wait to get started. We want to win as many games as we can and try to be champions.'' If he can inspire a few young footballers, the way Marcelo once inspired him, that will be a bonus for Selangor.
