Source: Visual China Group/Wang Gang/China News Service/VCG
[Saba Sports News] According to Malaysian media outlet “Scoop” ,Malaysia’s top women’s doubles pair, Tan Pearly and Thinaah Muralitharan, are in contact with potential sponsors outside the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to explore the possibility of leaving the national team and becoming free agents. A source revealed that it is unclear whether the Pearly/Thinaah combination has a long-term contract with BAM, but they are not the first top pair to consider becoming free agents. Last year, the men’s doubles pair Goh Szefei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani left the national team and signed with Victor, starting their free agent career. Interestingly, immediately after becoming free agents, the Szefei/Izzuddin pair won multiple world tour championships and achieved a career-high ranking of second in men’s doubles. Data shows that Pearly/Thinaah have been partnering since 2019 and are currently ranked 5th in the world. They have won three BWF tour championships since their partnership, including the 2021 Swiss Open, 2022 French Open, and 2024 Hong Kong Open. At last year’s Paris Olympics, the Pearly/Thinaah duo became the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the semifinals in history.