Pearly Tan

A fierce and disciplined badminton talent, Pearly Tan has become a trailblazer for Malaysian women’s doubles. Together with her long-time partner Thinaah Muralitharan, Tan reached a career-high world No 2 in women’s doubles in August 2025, following strong performances at major tournaments including the Japan Open final and China Open semi-final.

Tan and Muralitharan met at Bukit Jalil Sports School in 2013, becoming fast friends before being paired together to compete in 2019. In 2021, they secured their first Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour title at the Swiss Open. Together, they made history as the first Malaysian women's doubles pair to win the French Open in 2022 and secure gold at the Commonwealth Games. Making their Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics, the pair missed the chance for bronze yet ignited new hopes among Malaysians for the future of women’s badminton.

Tan’s journey into badminton began at age three, inspired by her family’s deep ties to the sport. Her father, Tan Seng Hoe, manages the Alor Setar Racquet Club, a hub that has nurtured notable talents including Lee Zii Jia and Jacky Kok. Tan credits her father for instilling a work ethic that emphasises speed, precision and relentless dedication.

In 2023, Tan set a Guinness World Record for the fastest women’s badminton smash at an astonishing 438 kilometres per hour, becoming the first female player to achieve this feat and cementing her status as one of the sport’s most exciting talents.