The Malaysians, ranked world No 9, won 21-18, 21-13 in a hard-fought semi-final match played at Mokpo, Seoul, despite a vociferous home crowd throwing their support behind So Hee-Ha Na.

With this win, both pairs have won twice in their four meetings at international tournaments so far.

In tomorrow’s final, Pearly-Thinaah will play another South Korean pair, Jeong Na Eun-Kim Won Ho, who defeated compatriots Yu Lim Lee-Seung Chan Shin 21-14, 21-11 in the second semi-final match.

Earlier, national mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei stormed into the final of the event after defeating Chinese pair Zhang Chi-Cheng Xing 22-20, 21-19 in their semi-final encounter.

In the final tomorrow, Tang Jie-Ee Wei will play unranked Chinese scratch pair Guo Xin Wa-Qian Li, who upset South Korea’s world No 8 pair Won Ho-Na Eun 21-14, 22-24, 21-10 in the other semi-final match.