Malaysia Masters 2023 badminton: That incredible 211-shot rally that went viral - see video

Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan and Japan’s Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto were involved in an incredible 211-shot long rally during the women’s Round of 16 match at Malaysia Masters 2023 badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur last week. A video clip of this marathon rally went viral on social media.

The well-fought rally, which lasted for well over three minutes, took place during the third game of the match when the scores read 16-14 in favour of the Malaysian duo.

All four players were left exhausted as the rally stretched on, testing every sinew and court craft possible. It ended when Pearly Tan seized the moment with a well-disguised drop shot that eluded Sakuramoto's desperate reach.

Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan eventually went on to clinch the match 21-17, 18-21, 21-19 in 48 minutes. But it was that stupendous rally that made headlines in the badminton world.

“Winning the rally felt like winning the match,” Muralitharan summed up. “I also thought that we won after surviving the rally.”

“I was too excited that it was finally over because it was exhausting and we just wanted it to end fast,” Muralitharan explained. “When it was over, I really needed a break and I threw the racket as collecting it from the ground gave me some time to rest.”

“We knew we were tired but the opponent was tired too,” Pearly Tan added. “In our minds, we wanted to win that shot, so we just mentally prepared ourselves very well.”

The Malaysian duo made it to the finals of the Malaysia Masters women’s doubles event where they lost to Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee of the Republic of Korea.