PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah face a tough task to maintain their fine recent record in the Hong Kong Open.

The Malaysian duo memorably toppled China’s world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning to win the crown last year.

In 2023, Pearly-Thinaah reached the final before losing in three games to Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti.

This time, they will likely need to overcome one of the pairs they have struggled against – China’s world No. 4 Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian – in the last four if they hope to make it into their third consecutive final in the tourney.

The world No. 2 pair have only beaten the Chinese duo once in their past five meetings.

Pearly-Thinaah also don’t have much time to rest before the competition which starts on Tuesday in Kowloon after capturing a historic silver in the World Championships just a week ago in Paris.

Women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak confirmed that Pearly-Thinaah were back in training and will compete in Hong Kong.

“Pearly-Thinaah will play in the Hong Kong Open,” said Rosman.

“They have already started training and will try their best next week.”

Rosman knows Pearly-Thinaah will be tested mentally and physically as the pair attempt to continue their fine form this year.

The duo have already reached five finals this year, capturing the Thailand Open and finishing second in the Indonesian Open, Japan Open and Indonesian Masters to go with their silver in the world meet.

In Hong Kong, Pearly-Thinaah will open their campaign against Taiwan’s Chang Ching-hui-Yang Ching-tun.

A win will see the Malaysians play either China’s Chen Qingchen-Keng Shuliang or Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji-Meilysa Trias in the second round.

If Pearly-Thinaah progress to the last eight, teammates Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee or home pair Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam could await.

World No. 20 Mei Xing-Pei Kee first need to get past another home duo, world No. 47 Fan Ka Yan-Yau Mau Ying in the opening round.

For Pearly-Thinaah, a semi-final showdown against Yifan-Shuxian is on the cards and if the former can pull off a win over the latter this time, they could battle Shengshu-Tan Ning for the title again.

The world No. 1 pair have not lost to Pearly-Thinaah since the final in Kowloon last year, denying them the world title as well as the Japan and Indonesian Opens.