- REUTERS picKUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah's defensive frailties once again came into focus as the world No. 2 were outplayed by Japan's Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto in the semi-finals of the India Open today. Despite producing flashes of quality, Pearly-Thinaah were often forced into passive positions, allowing Yuki-Mayuto dictate play with sharp angles and quick interceptions at the net. In the second game, Pearly lunged to retrieve the shuttle but her right foot slipped, and she stayed down. While Pearly-Thinaah still lead the head-to-head 5-4 against Yuki-Mayu, the balance has shifted in recent months, with the Japanese pair now winning their last three meetings, including the match in New Delhi.

Source: New Strait Times January 17, 2026 10:14 UTC