With a fresh four-year contract finally signed, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz expressed optimism that Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah can now channel their full focus towards their ultimate goal — clinching a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The world No. 3 women’s doubles duo ended months of speculation on Thursday by inking a renewed agreement with BAM, bringing closure to the uncertainty that had lingered since their previous contract expired in December. During the interim, the pair had reportedly received offers to turn professional.
With the deal secured, Pearly and Thinaah are now preparing for a crucial stretch of tournaments: the Japan Open next week, followed by the China Open (July 22–27) and the World Championships in Paris (Aug 25–31).
“They’ve officially signed the new contracts — a four-year term backdated to 2024 and running through to the 2028 Olympics,” said Tengku Zafrul, speaking in Bukit Kiara.
“With this matter resolved, I’m confident they can now concentrate fully on their performance and Olympic ambitions. But before LA, I hope to see strong showings in the upcoming events in Japan, China, and Paris.”
Although financial details were not made public, sources suggest each player will receive approximately RM1 million annually under the new deal — a reflection of BAM’s commitment to supporting their top talents.
For Pearly, the contract finalisation brings a sense of relief and renewed focus.
“I’m truly relieved that the contract situation has been sorted,” she said. “Now we can clear our heads and give our all to training and competitions.”
“We’ve worked hard for years to get on the podium at major events. Although that hasn’t happened yet, we believe this new chapter will bring better results.”
