The recent World Championships silver medallists were forced to bring out their best before winning 21-18, 21-17 against Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari, who were playing their first tournament as a pair.

The match lasted 38 minutes.

The Indonesians led 14-8 at one point in the first game before the Malaysians overtook them.

Pearly-Thinaah, the Hong Kong Open defending champions, will meet fellow Malaysians Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing in the quarter-finals tomorrow following their victory over Hsu Ya Ching-Sung Yu Hsuan of Taiwan.

Pei Kee-Mei Xing, the world No 20 pair, displayed fine form to see off their 23rd-ranked Taiwanese rivals 21-19, 21-18 in 40 minutes.

This means that Malaysia is assured of a semi-final spot in the women’s doubles event.

Separately, men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were knocked out of the tournament by top Taiwanese pair Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan in their second round match.

Sixth-ranked Wei Chong-Kai Wun lost 17-21, 21-11, 15-21 to the world No 14 Taiwanese pair in 45 minutes. Both pairs have now won twice each in their four encounters.

The Malaysians also failed to make it to the quarter-finals of the World Championships last month.

Earlier today, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King booked their berth in the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles.

The other men’s doubles duo still in the running are world No 3 pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani who will play their second round match later today.