KUALA LUMPUR — “It’s a big relief,” said M. Thinaah as she finally put pen to paper.
Months of competing without a contract are now behind her and partner Pearly Tan, as the world No. 3 women’s doubles pair officially signed new deals with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) today — securing their place in the national team until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We’ve been competing and negotiating at the same time, so to get this sorted now allows us to fully focus on the tournaments ahead,” Thinaah added during the press conference at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
Pearly echoed the sentiment. “We can clear our minds and just concentrate on performing well. This definitely helps us as we push for medals at the big events.”
The contract signing, confirmed by BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, ends a protracted saga that Scoop had reported on extensively from the start — including exclusive insights into the pair’s consideration of going independent, and later, their quiet decision to remain under BAM’s terms.
“This is the result of constructive discussions and a shared commitment to finding the best way forward for Malaysian badminton,” said Tengku Zafrul.
“The negotiations have been productive and forward-looking, and I believe both players can now focus on the three major tournaments ahead — the Japan Open, China Open, and the World Championships in Paris.”
While the BAM president declined to disclose financial details, it is understood the deal includes a base salary of RM1 million annually for each player, with performance-related bonuses.
The terms fall short of the reported RM2 million-a-year package the duo had initially hoped for — a sticking point in earlier discussions.
“I don’t want to dwell on the past or why it took this long,” Zafrul said when asked about the delay.
“What matters now is that we give our full support to Pearly and Thinaah so they can focus on what they do best.”
The pair had been without a formal contract since December 2024, and were the last among BAM’s senior players to finalise their terms.
Scoop first revealed in April that negotiations had reached a stalemate, with sources suggesting the shuttlers were exploring independent options.
That shifted in late June when Scoop reported the duo had agreed in principle to remain, but on BAM’s terms.
Now, with their future secured and Olympic qualification in sight, the 2022 French Open champions are setting their sights on becoming Malaysia’s first medallists in women’s doubles at the Games — a goal both players say they are more motivated than ever to chase. – July 10, 2025.