It was double delight Tuesday for Malaysia women’s doubles shuttler Pearly Tan, who marked a historical feat into the Guinness World Records by clearing the opening round hurdle of the Korea Open with M. Thinaah.

Tan wrote herself into the Guinness World Records for creating the fastest female badminton smash with a speed of 438km/h to become the first record holder of this category.

Buoyed by that news, the 23-year-old later won her first round match in Yeosu with Thinaah by beating Japanese pair Rui Hirokami-Yuna Kato 21-17, 15-21, 21-15.

The world number 11 next play top seeds Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan.

Tan’s world record feat was confirmed by Yonex: "The fastest badminton hit (female) is 438 km/h by achieved by Pearly at a gymnasium at Yonex Co.Ltd Tokyo Factory in Soka, Saitama, Japan on April 14, 2023."

Indian men’s doubles shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, meanwhile, broke the record for the world’s fastest hit in a decade when he smashed 565 km/h.

Tan and Rankireddy’s attempts were verified by official judges from the Guinness World Records based on speed measurement results from that day.

The records also indicated badminton being significantly faster than other ball sports, and even Formula One when compared with other fastest speed records in the Guinness World Records title.

Rankireddy’s smash, according to the World Records that was also researched by Yonex, travelled faster than an F1 car speed of 397.483km.

Besides the latest honour, Tan held a record of the unofficial longest rally along with Thinaah when the pair engaged in a 211-shot exchange against Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto at the Malaysia Masters in May.

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