KUALA LUMPUR — Youth and Sports Minister was impressed with the way Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah went about swatting aside their Japanese rivals for a dominant victory in the women’s doubles final of the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, today.

Hannah expressed her delight at seeing the 2025 World Championships runners-up triumph in commanding fashion, defeating Japan’s Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi 21-7, 21-9 in a one-sided Super 500 final at the Vantaan Energia Areena for their second title of the year.

“I am thrilled for Pearly and Thinaah, who were simply sensational in winning the Arctic Open women’s doubles title today!

“Consistency breeds success, and that’s been the strength of our Road To Gold shuttlers who have consistently excelled in tournaments this year. Congratulations and keep shining, girls! #RoadToGold,” she posted on Facebook.

Today’s victory allowed the current world number two to make amends for last year’s heartbreak, when they went down 12-21, 17-21 to China’s Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning.

Pearly-Thinaah won their first title this year at the Thailand Open in May and finished runners-up at the Japan Open, Indonesian Open and Indonesian Masters. — BERNAMA