Pearly Tan will enter the Japan Open with added motivation after receiving a prestigious state honour, as the Malaysian doubles star prepares to make a strong comeback alongside partner M. Thinaah.
The world No. 5 women's doubles pair will compete in Tokyo hoping to rediscover their best form after a challenging few months. Before the tournament, Pearly received the Ahli Mahkota Kedah award, which was presented by the Sultan of Kedah, Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, during a ceremony at Istana Anak Bukit on July 8.
Pearly shared the achievement on social media, describing the recognition as a meaningful milestone in her career. The honour also arrives at an important time as she and Thinaah prepare for a crucial week on the BWF World Tour.
The Malaysian duo are looking to bounce back after disappointing early exits at the Singapore Open in May and the Indonesia Open last month. Their recent results came after Pearly's recurring back injury forced her to withdraw from Malaysia's Uber Cup campaign in April, affecting their momentum during the season.
Although they managed to reach the quarter-finals at the Super 1000 Indonesia Open, Pearly and Thinaah are aiming to return to the level that has made them one of the leading women's doubles pairs in the world.
Source: BWF News
However, their Japan Open campaign will not be easy, with a challenging draw awaiting them. The Malaysians are on course for a potential quarter-final meeting with reigning world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China, who defeated them in last year's Japan Open final.
The head-to-head record also favours the Chinese pair, who have won 10 of their 13 previous meetings against Pearly and Thinaah.
Before facing the top seeds, the Malaysians are expected to begin their campaign against Taiwan's Hsu Yin Hui and Lin Jhih Yun, a pair they have beaten in all three previous meetings. A possible second-round match against Hong Kong's Lui Lok Lok and Tsang Hiu Yan could follow.
Malaysia will also be represented by world No. 22 pair Carmen Ting and Ong Xin Yee, who face a difficult opening match against South Korea's world No. 3 combination Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee.
With a tough draw ahead, Pearly and Thinaah will need to find their confidence quickly. The Japan Open presents an opportunity for the Malaysian duo to put recent struggles behind them and prove they remain among the world's elite.
