The stage is set in Birmingham for Malaysian badminton, as the nation’s top women’s and mixed doubles pairs chase a historic All England title. Fresh from triumphs at the Indonesia Masters, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei arrive with confidence and the hope of achieving a feat no Malaysian duo has yet managed.
Women’s Doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah
Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah enter the tournament as second seeds, reflecting their steady rise and strong partnership. Their opening round pits them against Japan’s Chiharu Shida-Arisa Igarashi, a decorated pair that previously defeated the Malaysians at the Denmark Open. Victory here would set up a potential last 16 clash with South Korea’s Lee Seo Jin-Lee Yeon Woo. In the quarter-finals, they could face familiar Japanese rivals Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi, against whom they hold an 8-2 record. The semi-finals and final promise tougher challenges, possibly against Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto, South Korea’s Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee, or China’s top seeds Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning and third seeds Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian.
Source: The Star
Mixed Doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei
World champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei are on a mission to overcome the All England hurdles that have previously eluded them. After a disappointing first-round exit last year, they begin their campaign against Denmark’s Rasmus Espersen-Amelie Kudsk. A second-round matchup could bring compatriots Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing, while the quarter-finals may feature Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje or Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu. Having recently defeated Christiansen-Boje in the Indonesia Masters final, Tang Jie-Ee Wei enter with a psychological edge. Later rounds may require overcoming top seeds Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping of China or Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet.
Other Malaysian Contenders
Several other Malaysian pairs are ready to make an impact. In women’s doubles, debutants Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting face a tough first-round test against Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto. In mixed doubles, experienced pairs like Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien aim to challenge higher-ranked opponents and potentially cause upsets, adding depth to Malaysia’s pursuit of All England success.
This year, Malaysia’s doubles teams carry not just their skill and preparation but the weight of decades-long ambition. With a mix of experience, confidence, and momentum, the nation’s top pairs are poised for a thrilling campaign that could finally rewrite history at badminton’s most prestigious event.
