Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia’s top women’s doubles duo, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan, have been urged to maintain their strong momentum ahead of the Badminton World Championships in Paris later this month — but without feeling the weight of medal expectations.
The world No. 2 pair have been in exceptional form recently, reaching the finals of the Indonesia Open and Japan Open, as well as the semi‑finals of the China Open. Their consistent performances have made them Malaysia’s leading hope for a podium finish on the sport’s biggest stage.
However, Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) Director of National Doubles Coaching, Rexy Mainaky, insists he does not want to put unnecessary pressure on them. Instead, he wants the duo to stay focused on what has been working for them.
“Their preparations are going well, exactly as we expected. There are no major issues. The consistency they’ve shown is impressive, and I hope they keep the same momentum and performance level,” Rexy told reporters at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.
He added that the pair should not overthink or become weighed down by medal expectations:
“They don’t need to think too far ahead or feel burdened by the pressure to win a medal. Just keep doing what they’re doing now.”
Rexy stressed that in today’s competitive badminton landscape, world rankings are no longer a guarantee of victory. “If you look at recent tournaments like the Macau Open, even the top two seeds can lose early. The key is hunger to win, commitment, focus, and preparation,” he explained.
While strong competition is expected from world‑class pairs from South Korea, China, and Japan, Rexy believes this should not be seen as an obstacle. With access to video analysis and match replays on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, players are better prepared than ever to study their opponents and develop winning strategies.
“What matters most is how we prepare them to stay composed and confident when facing tough opponents,” he added.
As Pearly and Thinaah gear up for Paris, the message from their coach is clear — stay sharp, stay calm, and let their game speak louder than the pressure around them.
