KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah ended an 18-year wait for a women’s doubles title at the Denmark Open today after sweeping aside Japan’s Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita in straight games.

The world No. 5 pair produced a commanding performance to defeat their 21st-ranked opponents 21-18, 21-11 in the final at the SJF Bank Arena in Odense, securing their second title of the season.

The victory made Tan-Thinaah the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to lift the Denmark Open crown since Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui achieved the feat in 2008.

It also marked a welcome return to the top of the podium for the Malaysian stars, who had not won a title since January.

Tan-Thinaah were made to work in the opening game against the Japanese pair but held their nerve to take it 21-18.

They then stepped up a gear in the second, dominating their opponents to seal a convincing 21-11 win and complete their historic triumph.

The result was particularly satisfying after their previous title at the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta came without a final being played.

On that occasion, Tan-Thinaah were awarded the championship following the withdrawal of Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Miyu Takahashi, who handed the Malaysians a walkover.

This time, however, the Malaysian duo claimed the title on court, capping an impressive campaign at the prestigious Super 750 tournament.

Their road to the final included a hard-fought comeback victory over India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in the quarter-finals, before they dispatched China’s Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han 21-16, 21-14 in Saturday’s semi-final.

The triumph also saw Tan-Thinaah follow in the footsteps of Wong and Chin, who defeated Indonesia’s Rani Mundiasti and Jo Novita 23-21, 21-12 to win the women’s doubles title in 2008.

Eighteen years later, the Denmark Open women’s doubles crown is finally back in Malaysian hands.