Sze Fei-Izzuddin face stern final test against Korea's in-form duo

The Star

6 days ago

PETALING JAYA: Competing in Japan seems to bring out the best in men's doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani. The pair have struggled to maintain their form this year after a breakthrough 2024 but have shown glimpses of their brilliance by reaching their second consecutive Japan Open final.
After capturing the title last year, Sze Fei-Izzuddin went on a superb run that eventually saw them become world No. 1 this year. Despite a dip in form following their Indian Open title win in January, they appear to have rediscovered their best form in the same tournament that first launched their rise.
On Friday (July 18), the independent duo overcame Taiwan's world No. 24 Liu Kuang-heng and Yang Po-han 21-19, 21-11 in the semi-finals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Although they faced difficulties, trailing 4-9 and 7-11 in the first game, the defending champions remained composed, using their experience to claw back and clinch the game.
The narrow win bolstered their confidence, leading to a comfortable victory in the second game and setting up a title showdown against South Korea's world No. 3 pair, Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho. The Koreans ended hopes of an all-Malaysian final by defeating Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 21-14, 21-15.
The match between Sze Fei-Izzuddin and Seung-jae-Won-ho will be a rematch of the Indian Open final, where the Malaysians triumphed in three games. However, the Korean duo claimed victory over Sze Fei-Izzuddin in the All-England second round, going on to win the title in Birmingham.
Seung-jae and Won-ho, the undisputed best men's doubles pair this year, have also secured the Malaysian Open, German Open, and Indonesian Open titles, finishing as runners-up in the Singapore Open. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will attempt to become the first Malaysians to claim the men's doubles title in the Japan Open more than once.
Meanwhile, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei's journey in the mixed doubles ended after a 12-21, 16-21 defeat to China's world No. 2 Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin. Tang Jie-Ee Wei were aiming for their first final this year but struggled against the Chinese pair, losing in just 38 minutes.