KUCHING: Pearly Tan and M.Thinaah were left to relinquish their title bid after losing 12-21, 18-21 against South Korea’s Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong in a dramatic Indonesia Masters women’s doubles finals clash yesterday.
Taking place at Istora Senayan in Indonesia, the top ranked national duo were left to concede a 12-21 first set loss after failing to find their footing against the world rank 8 Korean pair in the highly intense match-up.
In a twist of events, Pearly-Thinaah primed in the second set, towering the Kim-Kong pair with a 10-5 lead start. However, the Korean duo began employing offensive manoeuvres, though the effort fell short as they conceded the set to world no. 7 pair with a clinical 21-17 set loss.
As the pairs find themselves on equal grounds, the third set saw a highly contested bout between them – with each pair showing no signs of backing down as the former and latter hunger for their first title win of the year.
Despite the national duo’s last minute effort, the intense final set saw them conceding the match to the Korean pair with an 18-21 set loss. As champions, Kim Hye-Kong Hee are set to take home $37,525 (about RM164,284) while Pearly-Thinaah are expected to receive $18,050 (RM79,022) as runner-ups.
The win also signified the Korean shuttlers’ journey of redemption after losing 15-21,13-21 in the India Open women’s doubles finals against Japan’s Arisa Higashino- Ayako Sakuramoto.
Although the loss renders the Malaysian pair from replicating the achievement made by (then) rank 9 women’s doubles pair, Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wai in 2011(14 years ago), the journey to the finals was more than enough to assure fans on their prowess and potential for the next tour destination.
Earlier, Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa dan Natsu Saito pair secured the mixed doubles champion title after defeating China’s Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui with a 21-15-21-17 win, whereas Thai women’s singles player Ratchanok Intanon bested South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin in a tightly contested 21-18, 21-17 set win for the title of champion.
