Malaysia’s world number two women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah continued their strong start to the 2026 All England Open by booking a place in the quarter‑finals on Thursday.
The second‑seeded duo defeated South Korea’s Lee Seo‑jin and Lee Yeon‑woo 21‑14, 21‑14 in a 43‑minute match at Utilita Arena Birmingham.
Next up for Pearly‑Thinaah are Indonesian pair Febriana Dwipuji and Meilysa Trias, against whom the Malaysians hold a strong head‑to‑head record with four wins from five meetings. The recent loss to the same Indonesians in the second round of the Malaysian Open still provides extra motivation ahead of this tie.
The All England Open remains a tournament with unfinished business for Pearly‑Thinaah. Although they have reached this stage multiple times, advancing further has proved difficult in past years.
Pearly said the key to overcoming that barrier lies in maintaining a positive mindset and enjoying their badminton, regardless of pressure. She stressed that when they enjoy their game, they are able to deliver their best shots.
Thinaah echoed the same idea, acknowledging that rediscovering joy on the court has been a focus for the pair. She said they have been working on staying relaxed and confident through the ups and downs of competition.
With their consistent form this season, including recent titles and deep runs on the tour, Pearly‑Thinaah will be aiming to finally break through beyond the quarter‑final stage at one of badminton’s most historic events.
