
Sze Fei-Izzuddin fail to defend Japan Open crown
PETALING JAYA : Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani failed to defend their Japan Open title after losing to top South Korean pair Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae in the final today.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin found it hard to cope with the powerful world No 3 Koreans, and suffered a 14-21, 17-21 defeat in a match lasting 37 minutes at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin won US$33,250 (RM141,180) as runners-up while the winners pocketed US$70,300 (RM298,500) in the World Tour Super 750 event.
Won Ho-Seung Jae have now won twice in their three encounters against Sze Fei-Izzuddin.
The defeat came as a second disappointment of the day for Malaysia, after women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah lost to top Chinese pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning in the final, also in straight games.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who won four World Tour titles last year, have only won once this season, after clinching the India Open crown, another Super 750 event, in January.
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