Latest news with #GohSzeFei-NurIzzuddinRumsani
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin cling on to top spot, Aaron-Wooi Yik closing in
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have retained their status as the world no. 1 pair - but the fight to stay at the top is far from over as they head into the Indonesia Open this week, with threats coming from both abroad and at home. Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who last month became the first Malaysian shuttlers to reach the top of the world rankings since Lee Chong Wei in June 2017, nearly lost their grip following a quarter-final exit at the Singapore Open. They were fortunate that world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen failed to capitalise. The Danes, who had only just surrendered the top spot to the Malaysians a week earlier, needed to reach the final in Singapore to reclaim it - but fell short. Now, Sze Fei-Izzuddin must fend off a new threat - in-form compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Fresh off their title win in Singapore, the world No. 3 pair have surged into genuine contention, narrowing the gap to just 1,220 points heading into the Super 1000 tournament in Jakarta. Meanwhile, Malaysia Masters champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who finished runners-up to Aaron-Wooi Yik in Singapore, continue to hold firm at world No. 7. In the men's singles, Lee Zii Jia has slipped two more spots to No. 15 as he works his way back from injury. However, he remains eligible for all World Tour events thanks to his protected ranking of No. 9. Leong Jun Hao stays as Malaysia's second-highest ranked men's singles player at No. 25, followed by rising star Justin Hoh, who climbs two places to No. 43. In doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei continue to lead the way in the women's and mixed disciplines respectively, both maintaining their world No. 4 standings. Also flying the flag in mixed doubles are Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, who remain steady at No. 5. Goh Jin Wei remains Malaysia's top-ranked women's singles player, though still well behind the leading pack at No. 49. Men's doubles continues to be the nation's strongest department, with six pairs currently inside the world's top 32 — the cut-off that ensures automatic entry into World Tour events. The other three pairs are Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 23), Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 28), and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 32). In the women's doubles, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing are the only other Malaysian pair within the top 32 at No. 23, while Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin sit No. 13 in mixed doubles.
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Badminton: World No. 1 pair Sze Fei-Izzuddin bow out in quarter-finals of Singapore Open
PETALING JAYA: It was a disappointing end to the Singapore Open campaign for world No. 1 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who bowed out in the quarter-finals after losing to India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty on Friday (May 30). Second seeds Sze Fei-Izzuddin had been hoping for a deeper run in the tournament, but the Indian duo, coached by Tan Kim Her, proved to be the stronger pair on the day. Satwiksairaj-Chirag, who were recently back from injury, needed just 39 minutes to clinch a 21-17, 21-15 victory. It was also the end of the road for men's singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao, who was unable to maintain the momentum from his earlier rounds. He went down 13-21, 11-21 to Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in 47 minutes. Earlier, top seeds in the mixed doubles, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, were also sent packing after a 21-19, 20-22, 17-21 defeat to Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
World No. 1 Size Fei-Izzuddin crash out of Singapore Open
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were brought back down to earth after suffering a quarter-final exit at the Singapore Open on Friday. The Malaysians couldn't find answers against India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, going down 21-17, 21-15 in a clash between the current and former world No. 1s. The defeat could prove costly, with their reign at the top potentially short-lived. With a slender gap in points separating them from Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen — the pair they overtook earlier this week — the Sze Fei-Izzuddin could relinquish their No. 1 spot if the Danes reach the final or beyond on Sunday.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
World No. 1 Sze Fei-Izzuddin roll on in Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani continued their fine form at the Singapore Open with a commanding victory over fellow Malaysians Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King on Thursday. Sze Fei-Izzuddin were in cruise control as they secured a 21-13, 21-11 win over the world No. 23 pair, extending their winning streak to three matches without dropping a game. The top seeds have now equalled their best run at the Singapore Open and will be eyeing a breakthrough title, buoyed by the momentum of reaching the world No. 1 ranking on Tuesday. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will take on either India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty or Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the quarter-finals.
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin eye extended stay at the top after historic No. 1 breakthrough
KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have ended Malaysia's eight-year wait for a world No. 1 in badminton. As projected, the pair became the new top-ranked men's doubles pair in the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released on Tuesday, dethroning Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen after a 23-week reign. Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the first Malaysians to scale the No. 1 spot since Lee Chong Wei last held it in June 2017, and the first men's pair since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in March that same year. But their position remains under threat. The Malaysians must reach at least the final of the ongoing Singapore Open to avoid being overtaken next week. Astrup-Rasmussen can reclaim top spot if they win at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin fall before the semi-finals. The pressure, however, is on the Danes - they have semi-final points from last year's edition to defend. If Sze Fei-Izzuddin reach the last four and the Danes exit in the quarters, the Malaysians could pull away by as much as 4,000 points. Meanwhile, Malaysia Masters champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun have climbed one spot to equal their career-high of No. 7, while runners-up Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik remain at No. 3. Four more Malaysian men's pairs are inside the top 32 - Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 23), Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 28) and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 32). In men's singles, Lee Zii Jia slipped to No. 13 in the real-time rankings as he continues his recovery from injury, though he retains a protected ranking of No. 9. Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh remain steady at No. 25 and No. 45, respectively. Ng Tze Yong, who played in his fourth straight tournaments at the Malaysia Masters since returning from a 14-month layoff due to a back injury, jumped 40 spots to break into the top 200. But his comeback was short-lived after suffering another injury setback in the opening round. In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei reclaimed the national No. 1 spot from Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai after a three-month gap. Soon Huat-Shevon's title defence in Kuala Lumpur ended prematurely, causing their world ranking to slip from No. 3 to No. 5, allowing Tang Jie-Ee Wei to leapfrog them. Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (No. 4) and Goh Jin Wei (No. 48) remain the highest-ranked Malaysian women's doubles and singles players respectively.
