Bangkok — Malaysia’s long wait for a women’s doubles gold medal at the SEA Games finally came to an end as Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan captured the title at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, ending a 10-year drought in dramatic fashion.
The world No. 2 pair produced a composed yet gritty performance to defeat Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma / Meilysa Trias Puspitasari 21–16, 19–21, 21–17 in a gripping final at the Thammasat University Gymnasium, Rangsit.
The victory marks Malaysia’s first women’s doubles SEA Games gold since Amelia Alicia Anscelly / Soong Fie Cho triumphed at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.
Strong Start, Nerve-Wracking Finish
Pearly and Thinaah set the tone early with sharp attacking play and disciplined defense, taking control of the opening game. Indonesia responded strongly in the second, forcing a decider that tested both pairs physically and mentally.
In the deciding game, the Malaysians found themselves trailing 12–16, but refused to panic. With steady communication and improved shot selection, Pearly and Thinaah reeled off crucial points to complete a remarkable comeback after 86 minutes of intense badminton.
“We Just Wanted to Enjoy the Match”
An emotional Pearly Tan admitted the moment felt surreal after the final point was won.
“It felt unreal, like the match ended suddenly,” she said.
“We didn’t overthink things. We just wanted to enjoy the match and make sure we wouldn’t regret anything afterward.”
She added that mistakes in the second game became a valuable lesson heading into the decider.
“We rushed at times and paid the price. But once we got back in front, we told ourselves there was nothing more to lose. We supported each other all the way.”
Managing Pressure Was the Key
For Thinaah Muralitharan, the gold medal represented more than just a win—it was the release of a decade-long burden carried by Malaysian women’s doubles.
“The pressure was there from day one,” Thinaah said.
“We knew many people expected gold from us. You can’t pretend the pressure doesn’t exist—but what matters is how you handle it on court.”
She credited their constant communication and mutual trust for helping them stay composed during the toughest moments of the final.
Other Badminton Finals at the 2025 SEA Games
-
Men’s Doubles:
Former champions Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik were denied another SEA Games title after falling 14–21, 17–21 to Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama / Moh Reza Isfahani. -
Men’s Singles:
Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan claimed gold with a 13–21, 21–8, 21–12 victory over compatriot Zaki Ubaidillah. -
Women’s Singles:
Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon outlasted teammate Supanida Katethong 21–19, 21–7, capturing her first-ever individual gold medal at a multi-sport event—a major milestone in her illustrious career and her third title of the year. -
Mixed Doubles:
Thailand’s rising pair Ruttanapak Oupthong / Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat continued their impressive run, defeating world No. 4 compatriots Dechapol Puavaranukroh / Supissara Paewsampran 22–20, 21–19 in the final after previously knocking out mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie / Toh Ee Wei in the semifinals.
A Historic Moment for Malaysian Women’s Doubles
Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan’s triumph is not only a personal breakthrough but a landmark moment for Malaysia badminton, restoring belief in the women’s doubles program and ending a decade-long SEA Games gold drought.
Their performance under pressure stands as one of the defining badminton news stories of the 2025 SEA Games—and a reminder of why they remain among the world’s elite pairs.
