Pearly-Thinaah, who are world No 6, were defeated 21-13, 17-21, 18-21 in a match that lasted 73 minutes.

The Malaysians headed into the match as underdogs, having lost to Nami-Chiharu in 10 of their previous 11 meetings, but won the first game with some ease.

They were later overpowered by the Japanese pair in the second and rubber games despite giving a close fight.

Pearly-Thinaah must win their match against India’s world No 13 pair Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela tomorrow in order to be in the running for a last-four berth.

Although the Malaysians have defeated the Indian duo in six of their seven meetings, the latter’s performance in the other Group A tie against top Chinese pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning showed they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Indian pair were defeated by Sheng Shu-Tan Ning 22-20, 20-22, 14-21 in a tight match that went on for 82 minutes.

Earlier, mixed doubles shuttlers Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei upstaged their more prominent compatriots Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai in their opening Group B match.

Tang Jie-Ee Wei, the current world No 8, took 50 minutes to defeat Soon Huat-Shevon 16-21, 21-10, 21-14.

The victory proves that the duo’s giant-killing performances at recent BWF tournaments have been no fluke and suggests they are serious contenders for a podium finish at the championships.

A win over Indonesia’s world No 13 pair Dejan Ferdinansyah-Gloria Emanuelle tomorrow will assure the Malaysians a spot in the semi-final.

However, the Indonesian pair showed that they will not be pushovers after defeating Japan’s world No 21 pair Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito 23-21, 16-21, 21-11 in the other Group B tie.

Meanwhile, Soon Huat-Shevon will engage in a do-or-die battle against the Japanese pair tomorrow, needing a win to stay in the hunt for a last-four berth.

Other Malaysian players in action later today are men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia as well as men’s doubles pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.